Wandering in the fog

We haven't had any recent observations from the Swan Range. So, we went to Noisy Basin to get  more up-to-date info about the persistent slab problem, monitor wet snow instabilities, and look for wind slab development on the ridges above.

• The snow is wet up to about Camp Misery at 5700', and moist up to about 6000'. We saw many rollerballs from our sleds and skis. We sank up to our boot-tops, even with our skis on.
• We tested the persistent slab problem at 2 different locations between 5400' and 5700'. We got consistent propagating results on the obvious layers of buried surface hoar and facets above a crust. We had no shooting cracks or collapsing in this layer.
• Southwest winds were light up to about 6800' with no blowing snow. Recently developed wind slabs were unreactive with only occasional minor cracking at our feet. Above 6800' southwest winds were moderate with light blowing snow. We had zero visibility that high and turned back down the ridge.
• We did a test on a wind-loaded, NW facing slope with no concerning results.
• We skied steep, sheltered slopes with no signs of wind slab development, at elevations above the persistent slab problem, before hitting mellower terrain back to the road.