Quite Day Over Noisy Basin

Traveled up to Radio Ridge today to gather more data related to the persistent slab problem in the upper elevations (above 6,500'). We were looking for collapses near ridgelines, cracks, and signs of recent avalanche activity.  Instead we had to dig for information in many test snow profiles.

• Only obvious signs of instability we saw: several small loose dry avalanches observed on NW & SW aspects above 6,000' after the snow had been hit by the sun. We had very small blocks break out under skis on a N facing test slope.
• We did snowpack tests on several aspects above 6800'. SE aspects continue to propagate within the top 1-1.5'  of the snowpack on faceted grains but we didn't have any collapsing or shooting cracks. But our test results gave us pause and we decided not to travel on steep, unsuported, or rocky slopes that had been previously wind affected. When we tested SW and N aspects at similar elevations we had no results.
• We skied sheltered, well anchored northerly aspects up to 35 degrees with only small sluffing to manage.