Summited Mt Neva at 9:30am with the intention to ski the NE slopes or one of the NE couloirs just north of the peak. I went up the south ridge, so didn't have a good look at them until I was at the top. I had assumed they would be in since this is often referred to as summer lines, but they were extremely rocky in the chokes. NE aspect snow was excellent corn at 9:45, although getting a bit overcooked. I saw an ESE steep and wide couloir that was well filled in with nice runout, so went to ski that. Entering into the couloir (at 9:55 or so) as the slope angle rolled over I triggered some roller balls and small pinwheels. As I continued down into the steeper area I felt the snow become extremely sloppy so I made a last minute decision to do a ski cut across the line, during which I triggered a wet slab across the whole couloir with about a 4-5 inch crown. I then skied down the slide path, and was very thankful to not be caught. Good lesson to not be blind to the forecast. I didn't think this slope would slide because there had been a good freeze (35 deg at 4th of July TH at 6am), clear skies (both forecasted and saw by me early), and SE aspects weren't listed as a problem, and I was dropping in before 10am. However, I did see warning signs that I ignored: good corn on NE slopes = likely too wet on ESE (especially steep areas), white (fresh) snow on the couloir, and of course roller balls and pinwheels. The pinwheels weren't crazy but any pinwheels are a strong sign I think. Glad the ski cut worked out for me but don't want to rely on that.

ESE couloir just north of Mt Neva