Quick update from the Going to the Sun Road Avalanche program:
- Toured up to 6k' today in the Little Granite avalanche path.
- Between 10cm and 30cm of new snow above 5000' fell overnight on a wet surface. This new snow was already damp by 9:30am.
- Natural Loose Wet activity predictibly ramped up when the sun briefly poked out today. 3 small loose wet local avalanches observed - all natural point releases from rock bands/cliffs at ~5700' on both W and SE aspects (photos included). Additionally witnessed a handful of loose wet avalanches across the valley, in the Bird Woman Falls cliff-band.
- Dug a quick pit at 5800' in Little Granite/above Alder Path after feeling a collapse while skinning. Below the 30cm of new snow, I found a 40cm layer-cake of melt freeze crusts and larger wet grains. Layer of most concern is F-hard wet polycrystals sandwiched between P-hard M/F crusts ~40cm below the surface. ECTN on layer, but I'd be weary of rapid warming or intense rainfall continuing to weaken this layer (photo of crust layer cake attached).
- Ski cutting on steeper slopes produced predictable Wet Loose activity easily releasing the overnight storm snow (pictured).
Winter sure got sloppy quick out there!
