Observations

South Fork Eagle River & Ewe Valley:

Obvious signs of instability (red flags):

• Recent natural wet avalanches (loose and slab) on E to WNW aspects
• Rockfall triggered by warming

Weather:

• Sunny with calm wind and alpine temps from the low 20s to low 40s

Surface conditions:

• Stout melt-freeze crust in the morning softening through the day, and becoming isothermal on solar aspects by afternoon (depending on aspect and elevation)
• Dry, settled powder on upper elevation northerly aspects (ankle to boot-top deep foot penetration)

Snowpack:

Melt-freeze cycle has been underway for sometime, with generally low avalanche danger early and increasing danger on solar (E, S, W) aspects through the day.  Numerous recent natural wet avalanches.  In many cases, natural wet loose avalanches (especially point releases from steep, rocky terrain) on S to W aspects have triggered wet slabs (up to D3 in size) as they’ve descended slopes.  Close to civilization, a recent wet slab on W aspect 2 Bowls from ~4000-3000′ was observed.

North Fork Ship Creek area from Concerto summit: