Friendship Pass

A warm, sunny hike up to Friendship Pass gave way to high clouds, increasing winds, and some light snow. Trailbreaking through Gold Cord Basin was thick and cakey but snow wasn't yet glopping to skis or skins. On the shady, leeward side of Friendship Pass the snow had taken on a thin wind skin that made for some punchy, grabby turns but no instabilites were observed. A few naturally triggered soft slabs were observed in Martin Mine and on the SW aspect of Gold Cord Peak. The extent of natural activity indicates a shift to moderate hazard for wind slabs at upper elevations and may encourage some cautious terrain management. Overall, the snow in IM Bowl and Gold Cord Basin was much more obviously wind effected although still skied decently. We experienced no cracking or collapsing but didn't really get onto any steep slopes on the climb up to the pass. 

Recent snow was effected by a brief period of elevated winds late last night (3/18). On windward aspects in IM bowl, erosion, sculpting, and drifting was observed. On the leeward aspect of Friendship Pass the snow was less obviously wind effected but a thin wind skin (3-5cm) was evident near the snow surface that made for some punchy and grabby turns. Overall, the recent snow had taken on some body from recent winds and warming. On the sunny (and windward) side of the pass recent snow was thick and cakey, although not yet flopping to skis or skins. We dug on the leeward side of Friendship Pass on a NW aspect at about 4000'. While we found some layers of preserved facets, there was no obvious bed surface or slab in the upper meter of snowpack. Tests yielded no results.