Northern Swan

Today we went hunting for storm slabs and recent avalanche activity from the 22nd. 

• Recent snow accumulations averaged 10 to 12 inches at mid and upper elevations.
• Noticed two large avalanches out of upper elevation, NE facing terrain. We also saw one very large avalanche off the west face of Great Northern. These all likely occurred on the 22nd. 
• We were able to initiate shooting cracks and trigger very small slabs on leeward aspects at ridgelines. 
• Surprisingly, while we were there a natural slab avalanche ran off the NE face of Blaine Mountain. This was small and likely triggered by a small cornice fall. This made me feel more inclined to dial back our terrain selection. 

We chose to ski terrain that was mostly sheltered from the wind and roughly 35 to 38 degrees in steepness. In my first few turns off the ridgeline, I could feel a very hollow feeling slab beneath my feet and with my ski pole. It made me relieved that we chose terrain that had a gradual entrance off the ridgeline.