Mt Judah

We toured up Mt Judah to assess the new snow and check on the Dec11 facet layer.

Warm sunny morning and ice and snow was falling from the trees.  Mostly clear skies with a light SW breeze.  Snow surface was still cold and supportable on skis, and the layering of the snowpack was easy to feel with multiple pole probes.  Taking off your skis your boot would first sink to the ice crust, then break through knee deep into the facets.  We did not hear or feel any whumphing or settlement or see any cracking throughout our tour.

84cm total snow at 7800' on a 20deg NE facing slope that was mostly sheltered from wind.  The ice lens from the beginning of the storm was easy to find, and appeared to be deteriorating.  The Dec11 facets were loose, angular and uniformly fist hard throughout the layer.  Test results were ECTX, ECTN10 at the new snow/ice layer.  With a shovel shear test this layer took some effort to pull away, and broke up and did not release as a slab.  

Small cornice bulid on both Sunflower Ridge and Judah Ridge.  There were tracks from other parties in steep NE facing terrain in Judah bowl.