Low visibility and recent avalanches

Went into the Swan Range to suss out Storm Slab instabilities. 

• Found a handful of D2 size storm slabs on ENE aspects at mid-elevation that occurred yesterday. The weak layer was a mix of decomposing precipitation particles and near-surface facets sitting on 2/5 crust. 
• Localized cracking in new snow on test slopes. Unable to trigger any slab avalanches with ski cuts. 
• Hollow, wind drifted snow down to 5400'.
• Very poor visibility made it challenging to see any activity beyond the limited terrain we traveled in.
• Pit tests: ECTN on 2/5 crust, easy shears in hand pits. 

Observing numerous avalanches that ran within the past 24 hours was all the information we needed to keep slope angles relatively low today. The slope we decided to ski was short and had one 35 degree breakover which come to find out it too had slid yesterday. Wohoo for crusty bed surface.