Quick report
Skied up Gulkana glacier on Saturday April 15, climbed up Institute east face Sunday April 16 & then descended back Gulkana. Pole tests and general observations suggested good stability with only local wind-loading of possible concern. Snow pit dug at the base of Institute Peak's east face (circa 7700ft, 63.29381N; 145.4977W). Stable, generally "right-side-up" snowpack. 0 - 30 cm of unconsolidated surface snow to first crust with ~4F hardness. Good bonding occurring. 30 - 40 cm knife-hard crust 40cm - 100cm (bottom layer) = fist hardness 100cm and lower: pole-probe shows hard and homogenous pack. Likely similar to 40-100 Results of column test: small cracks formed in 30-40cm crust at ~ETC25. No propagation, no failure of snow column up to ETC30. Regularly pole-probed as we ascended the face. Similar snowpack with highly variable first layer thickness. We deemed the snow-pack stable (and skiable).