Observation Date: 01/30/2021

Route/Location:
Skinned W on the ridge toward Saddle Mtn from the top of chair 4. Dug test pits on a SSE aspect and a N aspect at about 8000ft.

Weather:
Calm to Light wind from the SSW in the afternoon on the ridge top. Partly sunny and mild temperatures for most of the day. Trace amounts of snow in the afternoon.

Wind:
Evidence of wind from the SSW during the previous snowfall at the upper elevations. Able to trigger small slabs off of wind lips on the ridge by jumping on them.

New Snow: 6-12″

Avalanche Activity:

Other Comments:
No propagation in pits on either aspect. Found buried surface hoar at about 40cm down in the pit on a SSE aspect that was difficult to trigger in a compression test. No significant test results in the pit from the N aspect. The new snow that was unconsolidated powder in the early afternoon was beginning to show small signs of cracking underfoot toward the later afternoon.

Observer: Meredith Condon