Spearhead Glacier

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Hard
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

We stayed away from:

• Sunny slopes

The day was:

• Sunny
• Warm
• Windy

Avalanche conditions

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

In the alpine today, strong gusting to Extreme winds from the SE kept the surface snow cool despite the warm temperatures. Skiing is really variable in all aspects with little snow left for transport. South aspects have a mix of melt-freeze, wind scoured and wet snow (sheltered locations) on the surface. Any snow left on the windward aspect was being lifted in the air with a small amount being deposited in variable locations. I suspect that a windslab problem will only be happening on really isolated terrain. North aspects are really wind affected, with wide-spread sastrugi and a breakable melt freeze crust. Most surface hoar is likely being destroyed by the wind.

We didn't see obvious signs of instability during the day.

We need a big reset!