Spring Like Snow on Red Lake Peak

Our tour ranged between 8600-9600' on mostly south to east aspects.  1 to 3'' thick surface melt freeze crusts existed on these aspects and elevations with some variability.  Under these melt freeze crusts existed cold and soft snow that has not gone through the melt freeze process.  As these surface melt freeze crusts softened by the late morning, spring like snow conditions existed briefly.  On our 2nd lap mid day once the thin melt freeze crusts were wet and soft, travel conditions deteriorated with a more punchy feel to the upper snowpack.  Absent a more defined and thicker melt freeze crust, conditions changed quickly once the thin melt freeze crust warmed and melted.  Small loose wet avalanches were easily triggered on small test slope features-see video.