Fresh deep slab on Penrose

We found a variety of avoidable avalanche concerns on today’s tour into the Middle Fork.

• We spotted 4 recent cornice falls from alpine ridgelines. Two of these triggered slab avalanches (D2-D2.5). One appeared to be a deep slab.
• About a dozen loose wet avalanches had run recently on southerly aspects starting at mid-elevations. A few of these grew to D2 in size and ran to low elevations. At least a few more D1s ran today.
• Strong winds above 7000’ were blowing snow and forming thin but hard wind slabs that cracked under our skis in a few locations. We could identify them by noting where the snow surface got dense, hard, and smooth. The winds were also destroying near surface facets and preventing loose wet concerns. 
• We traveled on steep southerly aspects early in the morning and late in the day when surface crusts were frozen, and felt comfortable skiing steep, wind protected, shady terrain where the snow quality was softest, while limiting our time below cornices.
• Surface hoar formed at low elevations and near surface facets continue to develop on wind protected shady aspects. Sun crusts are prevalent on southerly aspects.