There was only an inch or so of new snow. The windy conditions had little snow to drift, and the surface freeze was solid near and above treeline. Despite temperatures in the 20s, the snow melted on the pavement. Below 11,500 feet boot pen would often punch through the surface crust to moist snow underneath. With little new snow, wind-drifted slabs are not a concern, and there is little to shed when sun and warmer temperatures return. Nearly all slopes are safe from avalanches until we get a couple of non-freezing nights followed by warm, sunny days. Notably for mid-May, the upper Roaring Fork River is open water with the exception of a couple of snow bridges below and upstream of Fourth of July Bowl.

West side of Independence Pass

From Hwy 82 towards Independence Mountain, returning the same way

Cold, cloudy, and windy with light snow in the morning.