Observation: GE Hill

Pretty tough going. The snow was too light to support much. Skinning was a big chore, with each step sinking at least 20 inches. Pole plants almost always went all the way to the ground. With the predicted increase in wind speed tonight, I would expect tomorrow to reveal many more naturals, and anything steep to be suspect.

Too much of a good thing. Super low density, 24 inches, over sugar to the ground. Very difficult to find any crust/layer between the new snow and the weak old snow. In west facing at 8700 feet the snow was very well behaved. Headed toward a knob with some steep to see if we could get the snow to react, and quickly changed our plans. Multiple hasty pits on a road cut at 9400 feet all failed on isolation. Really couldn't find any layers or crust or density difference, but it was all failing in the top 60cm, all the fresh new snow. Total depth 100cm to 115cm, the bottom layer 40cm of very loose unconsolidated. Then saw two slides on slopes 35 or steeper, one that broke to the ground, the other took out all the storm snow.