24-25

Found 5-8” of fresh low-medium density snow. Triggered multiple small soft storm slabs/sluff which occurred on steeper slopes (40+ degrees). 
also noted an interesting crust overlaying a weaker layer that the new snow sat on. This crust wasn’t found everywhere, but just on the sides of rolls facing west or north west (between 9000’-9400’). When probed with a pole it sounded hollow. The crust was thick in nearly every place we found it and didn’t ever collapse under us, but it did shear in hand pits. A thin layer of graupel was also on top of this crust in some areas. 
other areas where this crust didn’t exist seemed to either not have refrozen completely before getting snowed on, or never got above freezing in the first place (high elevation north facing). In some areas the new snow bonded very well, in other areas it was easier to get it to sluff off the old crust. Attached is a quick photo of the crust location and the weak snow below it. 

Toured up the south end of Miller Ridge to 9,500'. Dug a pit on a northeast facing slope, 9300' (profile and pic attached). Snow depth was 7-8 feet.

6" of new snow was right side up. Below the new snow was a soft (1F-) melt-freeze crust with soft decomposing and slightly faceted particles below. ECTN13 broke below the crust. Below that the snowpack was 1F to P+ hard and lacked weak layers. The Feb 4 dirt layer was clearly visible.

There was a small natural dry loose on south face of Crown Butte and I triggered a dry loose slide on a test slope near the ridge (video). Wind was calm, even along the ridge near regularly wind-loaded slopes, and there was no snow blowing off ridgelines. I saw no signs of fresh wind-loading, but when the wind blows there will be fresh drifts that will be possible to trigger.

Skies were broken to partly sunny with a few light snow showers. Slopes that received sun got moist at the surface (at least below 9,000').

Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

 Many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek. Photo: BPG

Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Also, there was many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek.

Went up to Beehive Basin to check out the new snow as it was falling ---- but it wasn't, yet (between 10 am and 1 pm). There was a dusting of new snow when we arrived at the trailhead and a few flakes fell during the couple hours we were up there, but the substantial accumulations hadn't started. In fact, skies were mostly clear during our tour.

We skinned up the west facing sub-ridge to the Prayer Flags and descended via the Going Home Chute. Surface conditions were rough on any slope that wasn't shaded, with stout melt-freeze crusts. There was still a tiny bit of old, soft snow present in the shade.

No signs of instability or recent slab avalanches noted (we did see some older, wet loose slides).

Danger was LOW, while waiting for the storm to start in earnest.