Solid refreeze and cool N breeze at Blue Lakes

Overnight refreeze made off trail travel in the morning unenjoyable and machines were overheating. Sunny aspects didn't soften until mid day, and by 3pm, the sunny side of The Nipple (above pin drop and somewhat sheltered from the N/NE wind) still only provided a few inches of ski and track penetration. Snow under the surface was observed to be wet, but stronger and with less free water than observed at Carson Pass yesterday, likely due to an overnight refreeze that partially refroze the snow below the surface. No signs of wet instabilities observed today. One D1 snowmobile triggered avalanche observed near the campground at Upper Blue Lake, probably triggered yesterday.

Pic 1: At Lost Lakes after 2pm, the surface remained frozen and impenetrable. We chose not to ride down the normal ascent/descent route between Lost lakes and Polaris Bowl.

Pic 2 and 3: Several large cornices in the area, many of which are beginning to fail. Most looked relatively fresh and probably failed within the last 36 hours. 

Pic 4: Open water and deep holes beginning to show throughout the Blue Lakes area.