Observation Date: 02/05/2016

Route/Location:
Toured up the ridge and dug at several locations on the ridge to ESM.

Weather:
Calm in the morning, windy and whiteout conditions in the afternoon, significant warming at lower elevations on the egress out

Wind:
pretty gusty, winds out of the w/sw, fairly obvious wind loading on easterly aspects.

New Snow: No New Snow

Avalanche Activity:
large naturals observed on SE face of ESM, very large wind slabs. some minor cracking on ridge tops and on loaded slopes

Other Comments:
6,800 W aspect 150 cm depth
ECTN 13 25 cm down on tiny buried surface hoar layer
ECTN 16 69 cm down on rain crust

8,200 E aspect 143 cm depth
ECTN9 Q2 25 cm down , freshly formed wind slab
ECTN17 Q2 47 cm down on rain crust?*
ECTP20Q1 83 cm, appeared to be buried surface hoar
These two pits were dug 10 ft. apart
8,200 E aspect 165 cm depth
ECTN11Q3 22 cm down, wind slab on SH
ECTN13 Q2 30 cm down, rain crust?*
ECTN26 Q2 90 cm down, appeared to be buried surface hoar

8,420 W aspect 95cm depth
ECTN9 Q2 18 cm on buried surface hoar
ECTN14Q2 26 cm **
ECTN20Q3 45 cm down on buried surface hoar

*this layer is similar depth as the rain crust, although i dont believe it rained this high. not sure what it was
**appeared to be same troublesome layer as other aspects that moved in at the same time as the rain crust

Observer: Cory K Cory