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Windslabs near ridges, on both
west aspects (from the easterly winds early in the week) and
east aspects (from more recent west winds), and in cross-loaded areas.
Avalanche Activity was limited to a few thin hard windslabs observed April 16-17. These were on alpine west aspects, size 1 - 2, formed by "upslope" easterly winds. We wonder if those windslabs linger due to the cold temperatures. Later in the week a large cornice fall was observed on an east face during a wind event.
Weather over the week was mixed sun and cloud with 10-20 cm of snow later in the week (depending on location), moderate-strong ridgetop winds, and mostly colder than seasonal temperatures. The exception was Thursday April 18 when the freezing level jumped up to 2400 m in the afternoon.
Highlights of the week included ski descents off Mt Whymper N Face, Cathedral N Couloir, Collier N Face and White Pyramid, in addition to an extended Pat Sheehan Traverse that started/finished on the Athabasca Glacier.