Ripple Ridge

Sky was clear in the am with high clouds moving in in the pm from West. Melting and dripping noted in trees but surface snow stayed dry. Wind was calm all day, nil precip, no blowing snow observed. Multiple slab avalanches of varying ages observed up to sz 2, seen mostly on E faces in alp and TL. Some loose wet up to sz 1 on steep solar slopes within past 48hrs. Crust went up as high as we climbed (2170m), on all aspects. Two crusts within top 5 cm, 25-35cm storm snow overlies DFs and SH sz 2-5. Crusts were mostly supportive to ski traffic at TL becoming more breakable further down. BTL is a mix of breakable crust and ice cookies + ice bomb holes from tree bombs. Lots of trees down from wind event. Multiple hand shears at various elevations and aspects failed at interface beneath storm snow with medium pressure. Test pit: 2000m, east aspect, sparse trees near ridge top. CTM (RP) down 24 on SH sz 2-4 repeated x3 (11,15,17)