Sloughing Mt. Cameahwait

Toured into Essex Creek, descended NE aspect of Mt. Cameahwait

• Continuance of melt-freeze cycle in Flathead range
• New snow totals increasing with elevation; dust-on-crust below 5000' // 2-4" 6000-7000' // 4-8" 7000-8000'
• Light upslope, upcanyon Easterly winds above 6000'
• Small, reactive wind pillows above 7000', limited to ridgeline
• Surface hoar development (4mm) in shaded/sheltered above 7000'
• Descended steep, N facing terrain with much more sloughing than Saturday's visit...enough fresh snow sitting atop old, faceted weak snow to create wisdespread sloughs
• Sloughing below 6000' was not a concern as recent snow was well adhered to 1" thick, decomposing melt-freeze crust
• Lower elevation snow "corned out" nicely on supportable m/f crust