Right of RIght Gully at 4700' southeast aspect.

We went into Tuckerman Ravine around 11:00am to assess the sensitivity, distribution and size of the wind slab avalanche problem. We traveled on various surfaces: ice from wind scouring, unconcolidated snow ranging in depth from 4 inches to 8 inches, and stiff windslabs of varing sizes. We were on foot and had to back-tracked several times to avoid traveling in deeper (over boot top) wind slabs. Hand sheers throughout our tour showed a stubborn wind slab ranging in size from 6 inches to 2.5 feet. In some locations the hand sheers were less stubborn and failed at a hardness change under the 1 finger slab to a 4 finger layer about 4 inches thick. Overall our results were stubborn at the interface of the windslab and icy bed surface. In a deeper windslab just above the Broccoli Forest we found a 2.5 foot thick, 1 finger hard wind slab that failed at a slight denisty change above the ice crust (CT11 SC). 

Take-Aways

• Isolated windslabs, large enough to bury a person, were found at 4700 feet elevation.
• Overall the wind slabs were stubborn to react, and no cracking was observed during our travel.
• Areas of wind scouring down to the ice crust and lack of snow in areas confirmed that the windslab problem was isolated at our location. 
• We were unable to see into start zones and did not see any crownlines or avalanche debris because of the poor visibility.