Duffey Observations Feb 21, 2017

Spent the day in Steep Creek yesterday, February 21, on primarily north aspects under scattered cloud, -5 and light to moderate westerly winds.
Surface hoar, 5mm at treeline and 10mm in the alpine including ridgetops, sits on 20-30cm soft, cold snow on polar aspects and isolated soft slab in the alpine. Treeline and below treeline providing good dust(15cm TL) on crust skiing on open, planar features on a support crust. Fragile cornice tabs and cornices cleaving in the alpine.
We observed surface sluffing in steep terrain in reaction to skier traffic.
Of note, we received a reliable report of a remotely triggered avalanche in Cassiope basin from 60-80m away. Northeast aspect, 1900m, crown was 1-2m stepping down and ran 100m to the flats made up of large blocks of debris. It was triggered from a shallow regroup position on an outcropping. This was adjacent to the start zone which was steep and unsupported.
Enjoy the fine weather.