Observation type - Snowpack
Observer - Greg Patrick
Keep me anonymous if published - no
Location (general area) - Baldy Bowl
Date (yyyymmdd) - 20160302
Time - 10am
Road conditions to area - clear
Temperature - 60
Sky - clear (no clouds)
Wind speed - not observed
Wind direction - not observed
Slope aspect - not observed
Aspect in degrees - all
Elevation - 8500
Snow depth - <1m
Boot/ Ski penetration - 0"-6"
Activity, recent avalanches - yes
Brief description - hard ice crusts w/ very little softening
Comment - Most of the snow is gone on south facing slopes but NE aspects are still holding hard snow/ice well. The coming storms will likely create short term - persistant snow stability problems above existing snow over the next week. New cold storms do not typically bond well to old hard layers so we'll have to wait and see how conditions develop.  

Temps Tues and Wed are supposed to be back into the 50s at the bowl again which will favor rapid snow stabilization. I took pics (attached) of the current snow so we'll know exactly where potential problems might arise. 

Current forecast is for about two feet of new snow down to 6000'. With wind this may put down over a meter in the trees on the west side of the bowl. Since there is still a solid ice layer holding on all north aspects above 7000', recommend avoiding any canyon (Big Butch, etc.) exposed to new snow over this layer.

So to repeat: Stay out of the trees on the west side of the bowl, stay out of Big Butch and Ice House Canyons until conditions are stable which won't be until next weekend at the soonest.