Ruby Peak

The new gen persistent slab remains problematic on heavily wind loaded terrain features.  We targeted the problem and produced a couple of avalanches, unstable pit results, and signs of instability on east and northeast-facing slopes near treeline.  Last night's southwest winds appeared to add to the issue.  Many slopes are wind-eroded and not a concern.  If I weren't on a work mission to assess the problem, I would have gone skiing in wind-protected terrain where the snow quality is way better, and there aren't hard slabs to deal with.  

We found unstable (ECTP2) results on a wind loaded east-facing gulley that also produced a loud collapse.  I highmarked about five small, steep east-facing features near treeline, and one produced a slide; the others appeared to lack sufficient slab.  I also was targeting southeast aspects and had difficulty finding a slope with a slab, everywhere was eroded.  Where we dug at 11,800',  the 12/9 interface was a thick, textured melt-freeze crust to the ground (this slope had avalanched during the Gizzard Blizzard), and the snow above it was .5 mm mixed forms (I think faceting is now occurring above the crust in the most recent snow, which was about 10 to 15 cm thick.