Essex Creek recon

Toured into Essex Creek to get a feel for the bush situation and recent avy activity. 

• A supportable rain crust was noted upwards of 6000'
• Snow surface below 5000 became wet, saturated throughout the day
• Observed recent avalanche activity
  -Numerous loose, wet on S facing chutes off Essex Mtn (D1-1.5)
  -Numerous wind slab on N and E aspects, namely in the 6000' range (D1)
  -A couple persistent slab avalanches, these released in steep, rocky terrain above 7000'
       (1) NE face of Snowshed (D2.5)(see photo)
       (2) NE face of Cameahwait (D3), the debris pile made it to the valley floor and was estimated 20ft deep
• Turned around just below 6000' and skied a firm crust back to the trail through numerous alder brush.