Red Lake Peak Observation

Broke trail up to 9600 on Red Lake Peak today. While snow was still packed thick on the trees on the sunny side, 6" icicles were hanging down as of this morning indicating melt from yesteray. I spent the day mostly traveling on east and south facing slopes but got good views of steep north facing terrain. Multiple old crowns were visible on north facing steep start zones. The crowns were mostly filled in and no debris chunks were visible although a couple smooth alluvial fan type formations were visible at the base of the slopes. Some roller balls were actively coming down on the steep rocky east facing slopes above Crater Lake. Above 8400 surface hoar was widespread. We descended east facing terrain and found nice cold powder. Upon leaving just after noon, lower elevation snow was sticky and melt was rapid on the sunnny side of trees. 

Photo 1: Crowns from recent avalanche activity run wider than this photo captures. If you look closely you can see animal tracks that were decidely not avoiding avalanche terrain. 

Photo 2: More partially obsucrred crowns run across most of this upper slope. 

Photo 3: Large abundant surface hoar above about 8400 feet.