Bonanza Range

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees
• Steep slopes
• Sunny slopes

Enjoyed Saturday-Monday in the Mt Whiltilla area of the Bonanza range. Snow conditions summary: Spring on solar slopes, winter on polar slopes. ____________________________________________________________________

Weather: An artic outflow pattern persisted for our time in the range, with moderate to strong NW winds at ridgeline. Active south to north snow transport was constantly observed, with thin wind slabs forming on south aspects, and in specific cross loaded features elsewhere.

Good crust recovery overnight on solar aspects, less so Sunday than Saturday night. Solar input was significant in the afternoons, though above 1650m the crust didn't really break down. Below 1400m, snowpack felt isothermal.

North aspects remained cool enough to preserve snow quality with only a slight sun and wind crust, save for 50m or so just below ridgetop, which was ferociously wind hammered. You didn't have to get far below ridgetop to find wonderful snow.

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Avalanche activity: Small recent point releases seen out of steep solar terrain. Widespread old debris (likely from the largest recent storm cycle) buried under the more recent 30cm or so of new from Mar 1/2. A couple areas just below ridgecrest on southern aspects at 1500-1600m had developed very small isolated windslabs, but these were sluggish and moist. These could be larger in the right features.

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Skiing: Skied a wonderful north facing line, followed by an ascent of Whiltilla by its south ridge, descending the same into some nice open (and moist) trees.