Observations from Tamarack Peak

Touring on Tamarack Peak we found just over 3 feet of storm snow at 9,750'. This snow was dense with all layers within the storm snow ranging in hardness from 4F to 1F+. Snowpit tests performed at 9,750 on an open NE aspect with minimal wind loading did not reveal signs of current instability. ECTN and PSTsf results occurred on graupel within the storm snow. Moving up to the ridgetop we encountered areas of blowing snow and wind slab formation. We moved cautiously around wind slab areas and tested only the small slopes. We skier triggered limited cracking on these small wind loaded test slopes. Around 11:30 snow levels were falling and lower density snow was accumulating at a rate of S2 to S5. We started to created short cracks in the top few inches of the storm snow that were failing on a second buried graupel layer. The overall visibility was poor and we were not able to clearly see into the main avalanche paths for signs of natural avalanche activity.