South Rib of American Ridge, east of Goat Peak (Naches)

Followed a linkage of forestry roads & did cross country traversing up the rib/ridge between Chipmunk Creek & Cedar Creek. I didn’t get all the way up to Goat Peak summit due to lack of time & conditions (observed a cornice overhang on the ridge due north/east of Goat Creek drainage). Snow was dust over ice/low coverage consolidated snowpack down low, then dust over crust that varied in depth up to my stopping point (~5.4k’). I found a variety of 30cm deep dense wind fetch between the trees. Average snowshoe pen was 6cm~10cm. Travel was difficult due to magnitude of still exposed deadfall along the ridge and unconsolidated powder. Snow was mostly right side up, but the latest storm interface hasn’t fully bonded to the prior one. I saw storm slab behavior in isolated/specific areas, eg, lee areas, convexities, over deadfall. Weather was partly cloudy Sunday, in the high 20s to low 30s.

Quick report