Quick report
We were most surprised today by a stout sun crust generally 3cm thick that began at pass level and continued to the summit of Sahale. Above 7000ft this crust never softened and was mostly ski supportable leading to some survival skiing. Ski crampons were a must. By noon high clouds and a westerly breeze rolled in so we left the summit area thinking little softening would continue to happen. Between 7000 to 4000ft we enjoyed excellent soft snow and only experienced some minor wet loose activity (roller balls) in 30+ degree isolated pockets. Snow seemed generally stable and decently bonded. Friday’s warming was more intense than we expected, and Saturdays warming was less intense than expected. Tracks in N facing bowls suggested soft conditions in those aspects but we mostly travelled on S facing terrain, all of which will have a stout crust going forward.
Avalanche
Widespread evidence of recent wet loose from the previous day. Almost all slides were beneath cliffs and trees and were point released. Ranged in size from D0.5 to D2, and on a variety of aspects, mostly S oriented but also on NW facing slopes with S facing cliffs above. We also observed a small (D1) wind slab at Cascade Pass on. W facing slope at pass level. Hard to tell in morning light but looked contained to recent snowfall that had been wind transported. Crown of 1’ and broke 40ft across. Finally, we saw a large (D3) avalanche off the B face of Johanesburg that initiated in glacial cliffs and ran destructively to the valley floor thousands of feet below.