Galena Summit

8-10" of new snow in the last 24h. The wind created reactive 1-1.5' thick slabs in exposed terrain in the middle and upper elevations. Wind-loaded slopes were my greatest concern today. Weak snow exists under the new snow on many slopes that face N and E (the terrain I traveled in today was limited to these aspects). Sheltered slopes are currently lacking much of a slab.

Observed 1 D1 windslab (natural) on NE side of Avy Peak. I triggered a very small wind slab on a 15' wide rollover while stomping on it. Cracking was isolated to windloaded areas. Collapsing was isolated where near-surface facets were present under the new snow (N-NE middle elevations) in wind affected areas.

Goals were to track the distribution and sensitivity of wind slabs, monitor the 2/8 interface, and try to determine the elevation of rainlines. 

Wind:
Most avalanche concerns today were specific to wind-loaded areas. LgM WSW winds were moving snow, even on the Ketchum side of Galena Summit. Slabs were still reletively soft, but were reactive to my weight. Wind slabs were F+/4F- hard and 12 to 16" thick. 

2/8 interface:
On Galena Summit, there is not yet enough new snow to be worrisome in non-windloaded terrain. 2/8 is about 20-25cm down. 2/8 is most concerning on E and N facing terrain where previous surfaces were dry facets, or crust/facet combinations. On solar slopes, the new snow felt glued onto crusts and the slab would break apart in hand sheers. 

Rain Lines: 
It was hard to tell due to rain transitioning to snow at somepoint last night, but the rainlines were about at 7500'.