Quick report
Toured out to Point 6289 on McCue ridge this afternoon. Calm, no wind, cloudy, poor vis, snowing lightly until the evening when clouds broke and sun poked out for a few minutes. Did not observe any natural avalanches, woofing, cracking on tour. Dug some quick hand pits on S facing slopes during tour, snowpack appeared generally right side up with no cohesive slabs. Found some firmer wind affected surfaces and drifts around trees on exposed ridgeline. Dug more proper pit in some lightly sheltered terrain just below Point 6289. Observations and test results below. Elevation: 6270 ft Aspect: 35° Wind speed: less than 5 mph Slope angle: 32 deg Air temp: around freezing Boot penetration: crotch deep Total snow depth: 250 cm 0 to 35 cm fist 35 to 40 4F 40 to 50 Pencil crust 50 to 65 4F (Weak Sugary Faceted) 65 to 100 1F 100+ 1F for a ways Extended column test made it to 30 without any obvious reactive propagating failures. Then took significant force to pull the block off the top, which sheared at 35cm between the fist and 4F layer, about 5 cm above the pencil crust. Quality two shear surface. Despite no super reactive findings, keeping it mellow until forecast improves.