Trip Planning for Dillon Area

Rode around the pioneer scenic byway with the motorized avalanche fundamentals course. 

At 8500 SW aspect there was 120cm snow ( see picture for structure) ECTP17, ECTP23 failing on large basal facets/ depth hoar 25cm up from the ground. New snow from February is 1/2 the HS. 

As the afternoon warmed up we saw roller ball, small loose wet avalanches and shooting cracking from snowmobile tracks. At the end of the day we observed a very small avalanche on a road cut, also shooting from a track. 

We did not ride much off trail, where we riding the snowpack was shallow and you could easily punch into the weak snow. 

Dug in the snow with the Dillon Fundamentals course at Maverick today. Pit was NE facing Slope off Thin Air run @ 7770' When I stepped out of my skis I sunk all the way to the ground..

Snow was 90-100cm deep, with 45 cm new snow over a faceted lower half of the snowpack. Facets at 40cm above ground were 1-2mm and near the ground larger facets were mixed with wet depth hoar 4-5mm. We observed an ECTN22 @ 40cm on the smaller facets and an ECTP23 near the ground. 

We avoided travel on solar slopes due to breakable crust, and mostly kept to the ski area. Did not observe any recent avalanches.