Angell Basin/Lee's Shoulder

Our objective today  was to determine new snow amounts, observe for wind slab development, and track/test the Thanksgiving Drought Layer (TDL).    We made our way into Angell Basin and noted anywhere from 4-6" of new snow from yesterday.  There was little wind-affected snow below treeline, but textured and stiffened snow was noted as we gained elevation.   All of the small test slopes I would skin across did not break as a slab until I got to the ridgeline of Angell Peak and Lees Peak.  Even along the ridgelines, cracking was minor and isolated.    We dug 4 different snowpits on a variety of aspects between 8300' and 8600' We did not get propagation in our Extended Column Tests- a sign that the TDL is gaining strength.  It's important to remember that there can be a great deal of spatial variability across backcountry terrain.   The most alarming test results that have been observed in the last week have been in the Elkhorns and Northern Wallowas on North and NE aspects between 7,500 and 8,500'.   While we believe the TDL is gaining strength, we are about to get hit by a train of storms with copious snowfall and wind.  This will give our snowpack a good test, but it will not be the time to recreate in or under avalanche terrain.  

We dug a total of 4 snowpits in our travels.   Two snowpits were on Angell Peak- both NW aspects (one at 8300' and one at 8400').   The TDL was noted at 50-70 cm/ 19-27" from the surface.  In these two locations, we did not get our Extended Column Tests to propagate, but did note failures in the columns at a couple of different interfaces within the upper 1.5' of the snowpack.   The story was the same when we wrapped around to an East and Northeast aspect on Lee's shoulder:   No propagation in our ECTs, but still seeing some failures within the upper 1-2' of the snowpack.   See snow profile below.