Sunny with Rapid Warming

Quick report

Weather

warm, cold

Ride Type

mellowSlopes

Stayed Away

convexSlopes, alpineSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionTemp

A beautiful clear day up in the Seymour bc. Baker, Shuksan, and even some of the Pickets making an appearance! The morning started out fairly cold with the new snow from Monday feeling nice and airy as we tested it on the skin up. By the time we got past Brockton to the S face of Pump we were definitely feeling the rapid warming from the forecast. As we were considering weather to continue up, I dig a quick hand shear on a S facing steep section right next to where I was standing (no overhead hazards though!) As I was freeing the column, a fresh slab about 5cm thick just slid right off - evidence of slab formation from the quickly heating snow and I easily picked up the thin block in the photo with it staying intact. Snow below this ‘hot’ layer was relatively soft and consolidated (not slabby) above the previous melt/freeze crust. Not too much later on our way back the sun exposed snow started to become fairly gummy, although we still managed a few really nice pow turns on short SE slopes with sparse trees. No evidence of slab release for us there. Generally I would be concerned how this new slab set up later in the day after further warming. Felt like a downright April day in the lower lot complete with camp chair tailgaters :)