Divide Peak Basin

Skied up into Divide Basin today and holy shit there is so much snow! 3’ of new on top of a crust that is present on S faces and not present elsewhere that we found. Observed 2 natural avalanches on the N face of the cirque, one quite large. There is a picture of those. Also observed another natural avalanche on the SE face of the cirque that I was unable to get a good photograph because of clouds. We dug 2 pits and got an ECTX on both (one at 9300’ - 270 cm of snow, one at 9500’- over 300 cm of snow) on S/SE facing slopes less than 20 degrees. The one at 9500’ we had a hard time sawing through the hard crust that is under 3’ of new snow so it probably isn’t very accurate. Shortly after digging the pit, on the same slope 30’ above it we triggered a slab that cracked but did not move. Turned around right there and left. A good example of how feedback from pits is not necessarily the end all be all. I think the new snow will become more reactive as it settles into a more cohesive slab. We kept it overly conservative and I just want to say I appreciate you all!!!