Northwest Avalanche Center

Snowpack: Consolidated spring snow with layer of moist, freshly fallen powder of top, varying in the range of 1-3 inches in Wirtz basin to 10+ inches on the east slopes of vesper.

Area Description: Mountain loop area

Avalanches: Observed two large cornice falls from Sperry peak around 08:45 while ascending through Wirtz basin, which landed on high angle (>50 degree) snow slopes on the eastern flank of Sperry, but did not trigger avalanches. In the basin around lake Elan, debris of recent natural loose avalanches was abundant on all aspects, and large glide slabs loomed above the wolf/sperry col (see photo). While descending from Vesper (13:00), we triggered numerous pinwheels. Descending from Headlee pass at 13:45 (east aspect, 45 degrees), we triggered a D1 loose wet slide that ran ~150 ft but entrained only the ~3 inch top layer of freshly fallen snow; no one was caught in the sluff. Debris was also evident from a slightly larger D1.5 loose wet slide below Headlee pass, which was triggered by a skier prior to our descent; again no one was caught in the slide.