Observations from Maggie's Peak South

Warming conditions and snow surface melt observed in this area on all aspects. High sun angle this time of year was putting significant amounts of solar radiation onto N aspect terrain that is well shaded Nov-Feb. Minimal, unusable snowcover in this area below 7,200' on E-SE-S aspects. Recent storm snow on solar aspects in the 7,500' to 8,500' elevation range was mostly assimilated with the older melt-freeze snow below.

Loose wet avalanche problems had developed by the early afternoon hours, especially on the more northerly aspects where the recent storm snow was entering into melt phase for the first time. Pictured skier triggered loose wet avalanche occurred in an area of previous wind loading on top of old melt-freeze crust.