Sunshine in the Swan

In the northern Swan Range today. 

• We observed numerous (~10) partially filled-in crowns below 5500 ft. on all apsects from this last cycle/storm. Most crowns from the previous cycle were filled in at upper elevations, though some were just barely visible.
• We experienced no collapsing.
• We found wind slabs (upper 8 to 10 inches of snowpack) in exposed areas above 5500 feet. However, these were largely unreactive except for isolated cracking on skin track switchbacks.
• Surface snow harbored a less cohesive slab in sheltered areas.
• No surface crust at ~4000 ft. when we started skinning (except where tree bombs crashed, melted, and then froze).
• Observed one small WL (sluff) on S aspect below 5000 ft. in the mid-afternoon (see image).
• Large column stability test (ECT) results on WNW aspect at 6700 ft. (see image):
  • ECTN3 and ECTN6 at 22 cm from surface -> wind slab
  • ECTN29 and ECTN28 at 50 cm from surface -> small grained facets (that formed during cold,dry period prior to last storm and are notably softer than slab above).