Old avalanches and melt-freeze conditions.

We took advantage of the widespread rain crust, yesterday's melt cycle, and last night's solid refreeze to travel southerly aspect terrain today in the 6,200' to 8,400' elevation range. Starting out around 9:45 am, we were on a surface rain crust that was P hard and about 6 inches thick. Ski crampons provided confidence in areas of steeper terrain.

By 10:30 am the snow surface was starting to enter melt phase. Melt was most pronounced on true S aspects and was noticeably less on SE and SW aspects. Around 11:30 am at 8,400' there was about 1 inch of surface wet snow on true S aspects and half of that on SE and SW aspects. Descending to 7,500' around midday, surface wet snow amounts were around 2 inches on true S aspects and around 1 inch on SE and SW aspects. Some areas showed potential for wet loose avalanche problems later this afternoon.

Along the way we saw several avalanches, mostly size D2. Some we could see up close and identify as hybrid wind slab/wet slab avalanches that likely occurred during rising snow levels on March 14. Some in the distance appeared to have been triggered by cornice fall.