0700 start. Route was up Flagstaff, down into North-facing Days Fork, two superb corn runs on SE-facing Upper Days, and back out to Alta. Despite temperatures at Alta weather stations indicating it was just getting below freezing, radiational cooling allowed a solid refreeze on all aspects (other than steep n-facing) and skinning up at 0700 I was unable to jam my pole handle down into the frozen snow surface.

Much to my surprise, soft snow remained on upper elevation north aspects and they skied nicely. SE Upper Days softened by 0900, and was almost too soft by 1030 when we were exiting. Although I do think it would have been possible to get in another run and still have been supportable until 1100, but our concerns were the danger of wet slides skiing out south-facing Emma Ridges. Exiting Emma Ridges at 1100 snow was becoming punchy on East aspects, still supportable on South aspects, and just softening on SW aspects.

Drainage channels were visible on SW through SE aspects.

Southwest through Southeast aspects are sporting a true-corn snow surface, with more velvet-like snow on aspects directly East. On upper elevation NW through NE aspects there is dry snow underneath the snow surface and I would expect these north-facing aspects to become active with the rapid warming expected over the next 48 hour period as it appears they have not yet undergone a warming.

The Wasatch is a powder skiing paradise, but I've never been too crazy about the corn conditions. Today was some of the finest corn I have ever skied and this past week has really provided excellent conditions for producing a fine crop. It is too bad we are having such a strong warm up as it appears the corn has come in perfectly as of Friday April 26.

For Sunday I would pay attention to temps from mountain weather stations, but a clear night should provide a decent surface refreeze even if temps stay above freezing. I imagine the window of supportable corn skiing will be much shorter on Sunday morning however.

*** Thanks Bruce for keeping the forecasts going this past week and to you, Drew, Evelyn, and Brett for another great season of education and advisories. Big thanks to Paul Diegel and the Friends of the UAC for all their hard work supporting the forecast center. We are all so fortunate to have the UAC and a community of passionate and avy-savvy skiers. I plan on skiing this Spring as long as good snow holds up, and will send in observations if conditions seem they would be useful.

Lots of frozen death cookies out there, but there is also plenty of smooth riding to be had.