Our tour started around 1000 at the Butler Fork trailhead under sunny, clear skies (CLR), temperatures in the mid-20s, and no precipitation. Cloud cover increased to overcast (OVC), with temperatures decreasing into the teens, and light snowfall (S1) continuing from 1100-1400. We gained a north facing and ridgeline where winds were from the east-northeast above 8,400' (this differed from the forecasted northwest winds). There were obvious signs of wind-loading along this exposed feature along with some cracking in the new storm and wind drifted snow. We also observed small dry-loose avalanches (sluffs) on steeper terrain. Solar aspects had a noticeable crust under the new snow (~15 cms down from the surface) and another noticeable density change / crust at ~35 cms down. Informal hand shear tests on these solar aspects yielded either no or hard results (Hand-E) indicating the new snow is bonding well with the old interface.

We dig a test pit on a northwest aspect at 8,700'. The height of snow (HS) was 110 cm. The snowpack structure was generally right side up with a strengthening persistent weak layer (PWL) on the bottom 20cm. The PWL consisted of rounding facets of 4F+/1F- strength. We conducted an extended column test with no result (ECTX). Additional loading steps during the ECT yielded no result.

We skied some great north facing runs!! Be aware, there were two moose along the east Butler Fork skin track in the vicinity of Scary Gully (see https://wbskiing.com/desktop.php for more information).