20-21

Dug a pit on a southwest facing slope at around 9500 feet. Found a top layer of new snow, few inches bonded ok. Main layer on facets 75 cm deep. ECTP26 took quite a bit of force to get it to release from the layer. Facets were harder than a couple weeks ago but still garbage snow on the ground. Numerous recent avalanches spotted in next drainage to the north. See pictures.

Once to the right of the top if bacon rind we made a pit and discovered a weak layer at 6 inches deep propagating at an ECT rating of 6. Continuing on with the test we discovered a large layer (the same weak persistent layer we've had all year) about 60 cms below the surface and the slab moved as a whole at an ETC of 22. Super unstable snowpack so we decided to keep it below 30°. Then when skinning along the top we had to full whumpfs that sounded like a train was starting up. Finally we had a very unfun situation on a slope nearing 30 degrees that propagated and my partners said they saw it fall behind me. Overall super unsafe and I'd say avi danger was considerable. Those sweet 35° slopes are asking to slide. We also observed an old avalanche. Stayed out of harms way but am definitely getting new shorts.

I skied into Maid of the Mist today, which is now pseudo-passable, for the adventurous. I got a better look at the avalanche I saw from Divide yesterday, and it looks like part of a cornice fell and it failed on an wind slab from last weekend’s snow. It did not step down to the depth hoar, which is encouraging.
We dug a pit at about 9600’ on a south aspect, and found 160 cm and got ECTX. I suspect other aspects would not give the same result, though, and am cautious to get very excited about this.

2 slides on the south side of Sheep Mtn. Crown looked to be 1-3 feet high. Both where triggered by snowmobiles.  Photo: R. DeSilva

2 slides on the south side of Sheep Mtn. Crown looked to be 1-3 feet high. Both where triggered by snowmobiles.  Photo: R. DeSilva

Photo: Sam H.