In the clouds

Our party toured to 7600' and descended a W aspect in the Essex area of the Flathead Range

• 4-12" recent snow on the 12/22 crust, above the crust (>6000') closer to 16"
• Light winds, light snow entire day
• 12/22 crust exited to just above 6000' where it was thinner, degrading
• Skied wind sheltered, treed terrain (35*-38*) with no signs of instability observed
• Below 6000', the surface snow was sluffy (on 12/22 crust), but negotiable
• Numerous S facing chutes off Essex Mtn had slide in with the 12/21 cycle. Biggest was D2, nothing reached the creek...
• Evidence of wind transport/scouring in the terrain kept us off any suspect, crossloaded slopes, no formal pits were dug