Days of Shortwave Radiation & Wet Crusts

Today we went to the Middle Fork to check up on the northerly aspects

• In the morning, we traveled on a supportable melt-freeze crust that transitioned from moist snow to dry snow at 6,200 feet.
• By 11am, our various hand pits revealed that the snow surface was moist or wet through the upper 6 inches.

Recent avalanche activity:

• Southern aspects had 8 wet-loose D-1 slides that looked to have gone through multiple cycles since this past weekend (April 3 & 4).
• We did not see any slides on northerly aspects.  We did observe some roller balls on these slopes.
• The strong solar radiation, wet snow, and warm air temperatures were reasons to keep us moving.  We skied both a crusty, shaded northwest slope and a sunny southeast-slope of corn conditions.
• Our early exit left us wondering if more slides occurred later in the day.