General:
Began tour under broken skies, no precipitation, light west winds, and air temperatures below freezing. As the day progressed and elevation was gained, southwest winds increased and wind loading on northeasterly aspects was observed. By early afternoon, air temperatures had increased to freezing or above freezing at all elevations.
Avalanche:
No shooting cracks, collapsing, and/or audible failures observed while in the field.
No evidence of recent slab avalanche activity (Past 24 hours). However, relatively recent natural slab avalanche activity was observed on steep and unanchored northeasterly/ easterly aspects above 7000' elevation (Photos Attached). It appears these slab avalanches were triggered by cornice fall.
Cornice growth on north/ northeast aspects has been substantial. In a few locations today cracks were observed where the cornice is pulling away from remaining snow at ridgeline elevations (Photo Attached).
Snowpack
Below 5500': Snowpack in the morning was dry and frozen but on descent in mid-afternoon- all aspects were experincing air temperatures above freezing and affects of snow melt.
5500' to 6500': Snowpack remained relatively dry on shaded aspects through mid-afternoon but solar aspects were melting and becoming sun affected.
6500' and above: Snowpack surface remainded dry and/or frozen through at least early afternoon. Some areas of wind affected snow were encountered with 2"-4" surface windslab formation on easterly and northerly aspects.
to ~7700 ft
Debris has some snow on it. Not especially blicky. Guessing triggered by cornice fall; no similar slides in basin on similar terrain.
