Granite Creek (Gros Ventre)

Wind scoured slopes were the common theme above 8,000' due to varying wind direction since the last storm. Low snow coverage below 8,000'. Observed many forms of soft and hard sastrugi. Only protected slopes contained dry powder. Corn cycle on southerlies wasn't quite shaping up. Observed old wet loose avalanches from earlier this week. Colder temps today. 

The alpine in this zone was very thin above 10,000' due the strong intensity and varying direction. I would carefully assess the snowpack in the high peaks as thin areas could contain reactive, dry, and weak basal facets still.  These avalanches would be outliers events, but not out of the question in obscure, alpine terrain. 

Observed several old large D2.5-3 avalanches in the Granite Creek drainage above 10,000'. Hard to tell when these occured, likely the post Christmas cycle during rapid loading. The bed surfaces appeared to be on weak snow near the ground or glide crack influence. They occured on very steep, wind affected, and unsupported cliffs. 

No cracking, collapsing, or recent avalanches.  

In general, the snowpack was either thin or wind loaded. Dug down in one thin location (8,400' W aspect, wind scoured) and the December crusts were welded to the overlying slab (1F hard). No concerning facets existed above the crusts (Dec 10 and Christmas crust were smashed together, Jan 1st was thin and breakable). Entire snowpack was resistant when shearing the column.  Found similar structure probing for hardness changes through the middle and upper elevations . All the terrain held a right-side up snowpack. The overlying slab above the crusts is stiff across all aspects and elevations. 

Below 8,000' HS: Less than 100cm. Thin coverage with plenty of obstacles to hit. 

8,000'-9,500' HS: 100-240cm

9,500-10,500' completely wind dependent and larger variability.