Quick report
We traveled into the basin below Joe’s BA Shoulder below party knoll. Stopped at 5700 feet. Surface snow was brittle crusty freeze thaw all the way to 5700 and reported to be the same to 6200. Making for poor ski conditions. Noted surface hoar on top of crust entire route. No sign of the loose wet problems predicted. No wind. Fabulous sunshine. But temps stayed well below freezing. Based on observations we decided not to continue on our planned tour to Party Knoll.
Avalanche
From 5700 feet we observed avalanche debris at 6200 feet in the NW facing chutes of Joe’s BadAss Shoulder. D2 suspected Storm Slab, suspected occurred Jan 5. Covered a skin track. The debris ran 3/4 of the way into the basin. Dug a hasty pit at 5700’ NW aspect. Noted a layer at 25-30cm that was stubborn and non reactive in CT, but in Shovel Tilt Test failed Q1 planar, again stubborn.