Quick report
We traveled up to 9800' and saw evidence of recent wind loading from SW-W wind with fresh cornices and and visible drifts/pillows from a distance. No signs of instability as we avoided potential wind slabs off leeward ridgelines above 9500'. Wind slabs are likely isolated to alpine terrain. Winds were beginning to increase upon departure at 14:00. Scattered cloud cover. Cold temps last night helped evaporate yesterday's moist storm snow. Snow remained cool all day in upper elevations and warmed in middle elevations with small wet loose on very steep slopes.
New snow was right side up and bonding well to previous interfaces. We found 8-10" of recent snow in upper elevations. 3-5" in middle elevations.
Snow coverage remains low until ~8,000'.
Snowpack
Dug a snowpit at two locations to investigate the weak layers. Both pits were in similar locations to where we've observed previous persistant slab avalanche activity.
8500' NE aspect
Christmas crust buried 40cm. ECTN21 (no propagation, moderate shovel shear).
Dec 10th crust buried 70cm ECTX (resistant shovel shear)
Basal facets (November) wet, rounding and morphing together 1mm.
9500' NE aspect
Christmas crust buried 55cm. ECTN24 (slight propagation halfway across column, moderate shovel shear).
Dec 10th crust buried 100cm ECTX (resistant to shovel shear).
Basal facets (November) moist and rounding 1mm.