Quick report
Weather was definitely a significant hazard today. Though wind was calm at moments, moments of shade + wind were pretty ruthless. In the alpine, there was evidence of substantial snow transport (e.g. atop Mt. Baker proper). Touring up the Boulderfield, a quick hand shear around 4,750’ on S aspect showed top 5 cm consolidating into a soft slab around 11:15 AM. Wind effect was significant on Herman Saddle as well as in Iceberg Bowl. Midway down Iceberg Bowl around 5,140’ on a S/SE slope, hand shear results showed a planar release 60cm down at the interface of a stout crust. Profile of hand shear showed ~10cm of fist-density snow atop the crust with ~50cm of single-finger density snow above that. We decided to turn around and seek turns elsewhere.
Avalanche
A D1 size slab in the Little Switzerland area (pictured), starting around 5,500’ on a S aspect. Appeared to have occurred today, potentially skier triggered due to evidence of recent tracks. A D1 size slab near the East Gully of Herman (also pictured), starting around 5,000’ on a SE aspect. Appeared to have occurred this afternoon, potentially skier triggered from adjacent slope.