Canyon Creek - Bearpaw

Avalanche danger felt localized to small wind-loaded pockets or very unsupported terrain features. We didn't travel in avalanche terrain at lower elevations, but visual obs showed no new wet avalanches during the day in Canyon Creek. The crust was noticeable down to mid-elevations and the cooling trend that helped form the crust also put the kybosh on wet avalanches. Low elevations seemed rained out with little left to slide expect for cliffs shedding snow, etc. Despite some new snow, the danger trend felt steady given near-freezing temperatures and minor wind loading. 6000' and above could be another story with stronger winds and more dry snow.

None overserved other than localized cracking where new snow accumulated through the day.

At 5500', there was a 3cm thick crust that ranged from being exposed at the surface to being buried by up to 10cm of fresh 4F snow.  Below is 30-50cm of 4F>1F moist snow over a 5cm thick crust that formed during warming last weekend. Below the crust, there were 1F>P rounds to the bottom of the pit. 160cm total over the 12/30 crust with an HS of 265cm. Boot pen of 30-50 cm.

Could identify various interfaces between numerous loading events but none observed as problematic. The only noteworthy snowpit observation was an ECTP down 55cm, below the 1/21 crust. No FC or SH was identified at this interface but snowy, stormy conditions made grain ID difficult. Given the temperature regime in the last week would think that any FC or SH in the upper spx is rounding out.