West Angle

We traveled from 8600’ to 10,200’ in terrain facing south, west, and north. Travel conditions have improved significantly with the recent dense snow making it easier to stay on top. Snow heights ranged from 2ft (60cm) to 4ft (120cm) where we traveled. The wind has been at work above 9,500’ resulting in scoured areas and deeper, loaded areas.

We observed some cracking and collapsing limited to shaded areas on the ascent to about 9,700’. Above that, signs of instability were not obvious except one collapse along a wind scoured ridgeline. Visibility was poor, but we did not observe any recent avalanche activity in steep north facing terrain. However, one very steep start zone (>35deg) looked abnormally shallow and likely slid several days ago during a significant loading event. Obvious signs of instability are decreasing, but poor snowpack structure and the potential to trigger a sizable  avalanche that fails ~2ft down on faceted snow from November remains a legitimate concern in steep upper elevation terrain.

Did not find any reactive wind slabs along the ridgeline at 10k.

We dug a pit on a north facing slope at 10,200’. Here, the height of snow was around 120cm (~4ft). About 70cm of consolidated 4 finger slab is overlying 40-50cm of softer (Fist), facets that are well developed (2-3mm). Surface hoar was present at the interface, similar to obs from Two Ocean, but is not as well preserved as it was several weeks ago. 

Strength is increasing as evident by the lack of cracking and collapsing and higher scores in stability tests. Poor structure, strong over weak, 5 out of 5 lemons. Potential for crack propagation exists. ECTP 21 down 67cm. 

Weak snow at the base of the snowpack was shallow and discontinuous on south facing slopes up to 10,000’.