Quick report
It was a beauty of a mid winter day yesterday, clear cold and calm in the northern bitterroot’s. I had unimpeded views atop LJ, and from the calm summit block I spent some time glassing all round the area looking for crowns/ debris piles. I was able to spot a couple of natural avalanches, as well as some cornice failure, mostly back near the divide, but many of the big faces visible were void of any natural activity. I also dug once on my ascent, @ about 8600’, SE aspect, slope angle 25 degrees. HS 240 cm, ECTN 24 down 45 cm. A shovel shear peeled the new snow from the old snow on a clean plane 50 cm down, so I performed a prop- saw test on that layer and recorded a PST 99/100. No cracking/ collapsing all day. I skied off the top to the east down the northerly bowl and found great powder below the big wind blown face, then climbed up and exited via the prez. The prez skied really well, it was not wind affected and no slough running, Bass creek is looking chubby!