Shelter Ridge

On east aspects approaching Shelter Ridge below 7500' I found the new snow from overnight to be on a thin breakable melt-freeze crust from warming temperatures and pops of sun yesterday afternoon. 

I did not travel above treeline, but was looking for any windslab development along Shelter ridge from recent NW winds.  I found some fresh wind transported snow under small cornices, but these small wind-blown pillows were not reactive as I skinned over and jumped on them.  The new snow from last night and this morning was not cohesive and on steep test slopes could be pushed as small dry loose snow.  I think in more exposed terrain, there could be some reactive wind slabs from the storm on Thursday into Friday, but would likely be covered by new snow from Friday night into Saturday.  I had a momentary glimpse into 1st Bowl, Pyramid, and White Bark ridgeline during a brief break in the clouds and did not see any new natural avalanche activity.  Once the clouds break, the sun pops out and temperatures climb, the new snow will likely be reactive in terrain steeper than 35 degrees as wet loose avalanches.  On wind sheltered shady aspects, the new snow will likely be reactive as small dry loose avalanches.  

I found about 12" of storm snow in areas that I traveled.  There was 2" of Fist hard new snow from overnight sitting on a slightly denser layer of wind-packed snow from yesterday.  The new storm snow was sitting on a 1F- hard melt-freeze crust (buried on 4/3) that was supportive above 7500' in elevation.  Below the crust I found wet snow grains that sat above another crust from 3/22.  Below this, to a depth of 4 feet from the surface I found a mostly rightside up and strong snowpack.  I got a failure with no propagation in my Extended Column Test, and no sudden results in my Compression Test.  See photo below for layering that popped out with moderate force as I was cleaning a column for my ECT.