South Douglas hasty

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Wet

We rode:

• Mellow slopes

We stayed away from:

• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Sunny

Avalanche conditions

• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Spring day at South Douglas, snow refrozen grains in the early am, turning to corn mid morning. Lots of loose wet slide activity observed on sunny slopes, evidence of previous avalanches to size 2 on wind loaded slopes sometime after last snowfall. Had some settling/whumphing at ridge top on

+/- flat terrain at 1550m, dug a pit at approx 1450m above a steep north aspect, HS 200cm, top 5cm wet grains, three significant crust layers down 25, 50 and 60cm, all well bonded with inconsistent results between CTH 20-25 across two columns. Morw interesting was a 4th crust down 100cm with 15 cms of fist density facets below which yielded a CTM 12, sudden collapse. Although the upper pack was well consolidated, and the concerning layer quite deep, the rapid warming led us to avoid steep terrain. Had some nice spring turns and a great day in the mountains.