Indy and Elk Basins along Scarp Ridge

We did not experience signs of instability today, but we didn't travel near any steep terrain highlighted by the Persistent Slab rose.  Walking on low-angled terrain feels quiet and unalarming, unlike the endless rash of human-triggered avalanches on steep slopes that avalanched earlier this winter.  These conditions may give a false sense of security given that steep terrain on problematic aspects remains dangerous.  We skied steep southeast slopes near treeline without issue but chose terrain with clean runouts as a risk reduction technique.

The only sign of instability was cracking in very isolated wind drifts along Scarp Ridge. Drifts were only a few inches thick yet sensitive.

We traveled mostly low-angled east through south through west facing terrain and a steep southeast slope near treeline.  Much of the terrain we walked had a 75cm slab above the late December weak layer.  We did not experience significant collapsing, but we didn't get near any steep terrain that had avalanched earlier this winter as we largely traveled the south half of the compass.  The weak layer on low-angled terrain (with a full season snowpack) remains fist hard 1-2mm facets with slight signs of rounding.  A snowpack test on a west slope produced ECTP 22 on the December drought layer (see profile).  Intact snowpacks suggest a stubborn problem, however the previous week of remotely triggered avalanches on steep slopes strongly suggest a reactive problem.

Recent drifting from northeast winds moved some snow, but slabs remain isolated and just a few inches thick in this area.  The problem looks relatively harmless even though thin drifts easily produce cracks.

The one steep southeast feature we descended had dry surface snow with a supportive melt/freeze crust below.