There is low snow volume in the avalanche paths above SH82 on the westside of Independence Pass. The snow depth at 12000' on an east-facing slope is around 1.5 meters or about 5 feet. In the West Roaring Fork avalanche area the snow in the start zones and tracks is even lower due to previous avalanche activity during the winter and early spring. Notably a wet avalanche size 2.5 on the destructive scale reached the road likely during the late March meltdown. This slide deposited debris on the closed road about 6 to 8 feet deep and about 50 to 75 yards wide. This snow on the road will be an obstacle for CDOT's clearing efforts which officially start tomorrow moving up from Lincoln Creek. Otherwise there is low snow on the road, creeks and ditches are flowing and open. Looking over toward Twinning Peak there was also low snow for this time of year. Grizzly looked in fine shape though.

East-facing avalanche area above state highway 82

We traveled by truck, snowmobile, and skis to the start zone area of the West Roaring Fork Avalanche Area above the closed SH82 on the westside of Independence Pass.

No notable avalanche activity beyond some old Loose Wet avalanches. Cornices were likely the biggest hazard of the day today, with snow surfaces staying pretty cold through noon.

The surface crust below the softened surface was up to 30 cms thick on an east-facing slope at 12000 feet. Strong winds were keeping snow surfaces cool today but about a hundred feet below the ridgeline on east-facing slopes, the snow surface still got wet and was great corn skiing. We could find isolated patches of old wind slabs that had settled to about 2 or 3 inches thick and were completely bonded to the snow below.

The notable weather event was increasing wind from the southwest as early as 0830 at 11500'. This was cooling the snow surface on south-facing slopes and at ridgetop at 12500'. Descending a hundred feet down the ridge there was good corn skiing and a softened snow surface on east and northeast-facing slopes at 0930.