Sheep Creek (Snake River Range)

Rode into the Palisades portion of the Snake River Range to investigate the snowpack. Remember that despite the very hard slab and hero snow that is difficult to trench through, there is weak snow just below. Clear, sunny and very warm temperatures (for January). Widespread wet loose activity on W and S aspects. Observed two hard slab avalanches at 9400' and 9600' on a SW/W aspects that likely occured 1/30 during peak warming on shallow, steep slopes near rocks. Mixed results in stability tests with overall stubborn results. Snow surfaces are pretty much a widespread melt freeze crust up to 9500'. Hard freeze last night and light breeze kept snow surfaces cool until 14:00. 

Snow depth drastically increased at 8500' with an average of 130-180cm to 9500'. Very hard slab 2 ft deep lies above the December drought layer (1/4). 

Mixed results while performing stability tests. SW aspect propagated (ECTP25) at 9200' down 63cm (~2ft) on near surface facets above a melt freeze crust. N aspect at 8900' did not propagate, PST 70/100 (End) down 56cm (~2ft) PST 40/100 (SF) down 85cm (~3ft).