Red Mountain

Toured from Tahoe-Donner out to Red Mountain. On the climb we saw evidence of a recent slab avalanche on a steep east-facing couloir below a heavily corniced ridge ~7,800 feet. Looked like a wind slab avalanche triggered by a cornice collapse (D2, 1-2 ft crown) within the past few days.

Kicked a few small cornices onto wind-loaded north-facing slopes on the west flank of Red Mountain @ 7,700 feet. The cornice chunks did not produce any cracking or other signs of instability on the slopes below.

We skied low-angle, north-facing trees, trying to stay <30 degrees. No one in our party observed any cracking, whumphing, or collapsing on the descent or when skinning back up. Good coverage and very good snow quality above 7,000 feet - a few inches of light snow on top of a supportable layer. Below 7k it got a little heavy, sticky, and bush-whacky.

On the way back we skied an open east-facing slope with surprisingly good snow (fast and smooth), though the snowpack was fairly thin.

Surface hoar in most shaded areas. Exposed SE and south aspects had developed a thin sun crust by mid-afternoon.