Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- widespread
BTL snowpack was challenging with low coverage snow, ice, and breakable crusts off the beaten path. NTL/ATL was as described previously: stout surface crust in shade; weaker in the sun. Large facet crystals down ~6". Shaded areas on N portion of the compass dial were a mix of wind fetch/powder and supportive wind slabs/cornices. Traveled less aggressively in the morning, but were much more aggressive in the late afternoon once we had a chance to feel out the snow instability issues and had a better grasp of where the overhead hazards (cornice overhangs) were (none above route taken in general). Descending in afternoon was a bit miserable in snowshoes, because we kept hitting rain crusts under the trees with pencil hard stability or greater. Pretty much all of the sun-soaked aspects (all but N facing areas) were incredibly unsupportive once we broke through the zipper layer/more stout sun/rain crust.
Avalanche
D.1.5~D2/R2~R2.5 avy debris off steep W facing terrain along Sasse Ridge.