before the storm...

Toured to Snowshed mountain (7600'), skied a short N lap, then descended to valley floor via a NW aspect. 

• Skin track visible from Saturdays tour up to 6000'
• Light to moderate winds above 6000' - Mostly cloudy with bouts of sunshine in the early PM hours - Temperature below-freezing throughout
• Recent windslab development along, and just below ridgeline, on typical leeward (E). These slabs ranged from 1F-4F hardness and rested atop old, low density powder from recent cold snap; shooting cracks observed. 
• Isloated pockets of windslab noted within gladed N terrain, one "rider-triggered" slide occured on windslab mentioned above (D1) (see photo).
• In the pit:
  7500' N aspect
  ECTP 1 (!) @ 20cm from surface (4F windslab sitting atop old, low density snow) "upside down" structure (see photo)
  ECTP 11 @ 40cm from the surface
  We conducted two ECT's with similar results: ECTP 3 / ECTP 11 (see video)
• We descended gladed NW, 35*-40* and experienced great riding conditions top-to-bottom. 
• Had good looks into higher/steeper terrain with no recent avalanche activity noted besides some loose/dry slough. Although the Flathead Divide headwall was concealed in cloud all day.