Gash Knob

6 to 10 inches of new snow fell in the last 24 hours (2-3 inches at lower elevations). In most areas, it was only lightly wind affected. However, in wind-exposed areas at upper elevations, the fresh snow was drifted into soft wind drifts up to 24" deep. Last night's northwest winds drifted the snow onto south and east aspects, but today's south winds were slowly eroding the slabs on south aspects. We observed cracking in the fresh drifts and were able to intentionally trigger a D1 wind slab on a wind loaded east aspect just below the ridgeline. The avalanche was around 20 ft wide and 12 inches deep. With clear skies, we got a good look at nearby upper elevation terrain and observed several very small natural wind slabs and sluffs off of heavily corniced ridgelines. 

We dug a 120cm deep pit on an east aspect at 7600 ft. The total snow depth was 220 cm (87"). Stability tests did not produce any propagating results, but there were non-propagating failures on medium taps at the storm interface and on old wind slabs just below. We did not observe any signs of instability on the older wind slabs today, but considering how hard the slabs are, I don't fully trust them yet. 

Under direct sun today, the fresh snow became wet on south aspects that were protected from the wind. Small wet loose avalanches in the fresh snow would likely have been easy to trigger in steep south-facing terrain. 

We observed an older large natural slab avalanche on an upper elevation east aspect below some large cliffs that likely failed during the Presidents Day storm.