Breakable Crusts, Supportable Crusts, and Wet Snow on Red Lake Peak

A refreeze did occur in this area last night, and a variable melt freeze crust existed on most aspects up to 9400 ft. Below this crust deep wet snow that had not refrozen still remained. By 11 am the melt freeze crust on the E-SE-S-SW aspects would no longer support a person on foot and stepping off of my skis resulting in sinking into wet snow above my boots. The crust was just starting to become breakable on skis at that time as well. Ski cuts on steep S facing test slopes at 1 pm triggered small wet snow sluffs that entrained 5 to 15 cm of wet snow. On the northerly aspects the crust remained supportable and frozen until at least 1 pm. Debris from numerous recent loose wet avalanches existed on NW-N-NE aspects in the Round Top area. 

Photo 1: Loose wet snow sluff on a S facing test slope at 8720 ft. at 1 pm at the coordinates attached to this observation.

Photo 2: Boot top deep wet snow on a SW aspect at 12:40 pm at 9400 ft. 

Photo 3: Recent loose wet avalanches on the northerly terrain around Round Top.