Date of Observation: 03/18/2017
Name: Evan Ross
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation: 10,800-12,789
Avalanches: Its finally happened! The Purple Palace Guide Cracks released in some form of wet slab/guide crack collaboration, today.
Weather: Blue bird with a few puffy or high then clouds. Light winds at ridgeline. 2017 Hot. Another bug landed on my goggles at 11,000ft.
Snowpack: Northerly slopes above treeline had a snow surface mix of soft and faceted, to various forms of wind-board or wind sculpted. The combination of these firmer surfaces and the march sun not being high enough yet, are combining to keep the snow surface cool. Tilting more East, from north, the forecasted wet snow travel advice can be followed.
At ridlegline, south slopes where generally firm and supportive before noon. The exception was abnormal shallow slopes that were 50/50 supportive into moist/wet snow below. The next time we were on south slopes proper was around 10,500ft at 2pm and they were generally unsupportive to boots but still supportive to snowmobiles and skis.
Guide Crack release. East Aspect, 10,500ft
IMG_3159