On north through east facing aspects below tree line and in sheltered areas near tree line, I found a thin weak snowpack. In more exposed areas near and above tree line on east and southeast facing aspects, the snow was very wind effected. I saw two small avalanches below tree line on wind loaded, open northeast facing aspects below tree line. If you find avalanche activity in this area, it would be on steep, wind drifted slopes near or above tree line.

Squaretop Mountain, Guanella Pass.

From the winter parking area, I ascended the CR 381 on north through east aspects below tree line to the east ridge of Squaretop Mountain and descended the same route.

I noticed two avalanches in the same area on northeast facing terrain below tree line. One was quite small (less than a D1) and either triggered by wind or the squirrel tracks I saw nearby. The other appeared to an old wind slab avalanche.

Below tree line, the height of snow on northeast facing aspects was under a meter and very faceted. Any time I went off the skin track ski penetration was close to the ground. On sheltered east facing aspects near tree line, the height of snow ranged from 30-110cm and a snow pit revealed weak layers without an identifiable slab. As I traveled higher to more exposed terrain near and above tree line, I found a variety of wind effect including a thin wind skin, both fully supportable and breakable wind slabs, and sastrugi. Here the height of snow was between 20-165cm and far more supportive. A snow pit on southeast aspect at 12,000ft depicted a small wind slab over F+ decomposing fragments and a burly K-K+ hard slab that was over 50cm thick. I experienced localized cracking on wind drifted areas near and above tree line, and localized collapsing while skinning through willows near tree line.

Clear skies, moderate southeast wind, mild temperatures.