Ash Creek Butte

A tour to the Ash Creek Butte Ridge weather station and surrounding area revealed the same right side up snowpack configuration being found recently in most places throughout the advisory area.  Very good stability was observed today.  A few, several-day old avalanches were observed.  See attached photo of one large old avalanche on the NE face of Ash Creek Butte (red arrow points to crown).  The avalanche ran during our most recent storm cycle.  The crown looked to have been up to 3ft deep, but the bed surface had filled almost all the way back in with snow and it was difficult to determine the exact dimensions of the old slide.  Snow surfaces on northerly, shady aspects remain cold and dry despite recent warm temperatures.  Solar aspects hold variable, and sun-affected snow surfaces.  Wind-affected snow exists near ridgetop but is not widespread. No wind slabs were observed in the area today.  That being said, plenty of snow is available for transport, and with productive winds, wind slabs could easily develop.