We headed up ississttukkii feeling a little on our heels, given the recent loading and wind.
We dug three holes over the course of the day hunting for windslabs: two on sheltered, ENE aspects at differing elevations and tree densities that showed a right side up, happy snowpack devoid of reactivity. It was a slightly different story higher on the ridge in the open, where 30cms of lightly wind affected snow (fist to 4F) sat atop over a meter of stacked, pencil-hardness wind slabs. None were particularly reactive, but with 250cm total snow depth, we didn't take the initiative to dig to the ground. Consequently, we detoured around steeper aspects on our exit and stuck to protected areas where most of the snow was in the trees still and surface conditions were soft and not affected by the wind.
Winds were light during the day, mostly at ridgetops, and conditions were partly sunny to full sun.
The rain crust noted only went up to 4650 ft, and was partially buried by new snow.
Pt. 6996/ sub-Shields
