Tatoosh Range

It was a wet and soggy day in the Tatoosh range. The depth over the EFC increases with elevation but not as much as I had anticipated. The snow also got drier and more wind effected the higher we ascended. We didn't notice any wind slabs, but visibility was difficult. We did observe blowing snow, textured surfaces, and areas scoured down to the ECF or even the rocks.

The moist snow has helped the bond with the underlying crust and made skinning a bit easier, but it still isn't favorable. It was easy to push snow on the EFC and you felt it on most turns. Wet avalanche activity increased throughout the day at mid-elevations with plenty of rollerballs, pinwheels, snow sticking to your skins, etc.

There are still plenty of holes, running water, exposed bushes, and rocks.

Wet avalanche activity below ~5800' where the snow was moist, coinciding with precipitation type. We observed some localized cracking of the snow surface at upper elevations in wind-effected terrain.

Below ~5800': Heavy moist snow over the EFC. The amount varied with elevation, but roughly 10-20cm. On steeper slopes, we were able to push this snow as a cohesive slab on over the EFC. No concerns below.

Above ~5800': The snow was much drier but still heavy with the overall warm temperatures today. Dug on a NE slope at 5950' below the Castle Saddle and found a HS of 197cm. The EFC was down 22cm and was 45cm thick. Obviously, it's very supportable and firm. Of note - facets were found on top of the EFC, helping maintain a poor bond despite the warmth. Extended column tests did not propagate but the slab was shallow and soft.