General Observations

Spent the last week in the College Glacier area. At the beginning of our time there (03/07/2022), snow was very firm and very wind effected. Got camp set up and then weathered the 3 day storm that dumped 47cm of fresh, dry, powder from 03/09 through 03/11. No wind to speak of in this valley during the storm. When the storm broke, we had endless lines of deep powder; some of the best snow of the range that I can remember. Steeper slopes showed signs of and underwent a natural loose snow/point release/sluff cycle for the next day or two. We also noticed a handful of D1-D2 natural avalanches on the tops of some North facing slopes further down valley that seem to have occurred during the storm.

As expected, snow assessments during the storm (03/10) showed some weaknesses within the new storm snow. A pit dug a few days after the storm (03/14) indicated that the new snow was consolidating nicely. Problem layer seems to be an ice layer nestled in the firm snow deeper down (50-90cm deep, depending on location). While we only dug partial pits, we did dig a snowcave that showed large (3-5mm) depth hoar crystals at the bottom of the snowpack. 

Generally 200-400 cm of snow throughout the area. No whumphing or shooting cracks seen the entire trip. Mind and mitigate your sluff, and you’ll find a sheltered powder paradise on the College Glacier.

As Phillip noted, driving through the pass yesterday, lots of evidence of blowing snow and small avalanches. Those gap winds are terrible. Move away from the pass to find sheltered zones and good snow!