Calm day in the Flatheads

Our party, once again, toured to 7600' on Snowshed Mtn, skied a lap on a NE aspect, descended via a NW aspect into Essex Creek. 

• Essex seems to be on the lighter end of accumulation totals with the last system; around 6" fell at valley levels and no more than 10" at upper elevations. 
• Snow from last night was light density (above 5000') and the recent storm felt "right side" up. 
• Winds were dead calm on the summit of Snowshed. The highest winds appeared to be early in the AM hours, but otherwise little wind effect and a nice coating of fluff at ridgeline. 
• Visibility was in-and-out and limited views were had into the upper headwall of Essex Creek (Cameahwait/Adams). There were no apparent deep slab avalanches. 
• The sun made a brief appearance around 1100 and it warmed up quickly! Thin clouds moved back in and became overcast in the PM
• The S facing chutes off Essex Mtn once again had storm slab/sloughing on steep terrain (<40*) D1-1.5, presumably from the small bout of solar radiation.
• We dug one pit at 7300 on a NE aspect with no alarming results or propagation. HS-250cm at this location. 
• Wind slabs noted from the day before were moderately firmer and deeper (16"), reactive in wind pillows; but otherwise non-problematic in the terrain we skied. 
• Besides some sloughing on the most recent crust, below 6000', no instabilites or settling were observed. Kept it to tight, gladed terrain with pitches in the 32*-38* range. 
• East winds are picking up in Essex currently and snowfall is increasing, temps dropping.