Wind Slabs and Blowing Snow on Incline Lake Peak

As we left the vehicle we noticed 2 to 4 inches of new, cold, low-density snow on the surface. This new snow existed on top of more dense and supportable snow from the last few days. Probing with a pole and hand pits could still detect some layers in the upper snowpack. We stopped to dig a quick test to take a closer look. We found lower density snow below some higher density snow, but our observations indicated that these layers are bonding. Snowpit tests did not show any signs of instability even in areas near some of the natural storm slab avalanches that occurred on Wednesday. We also ski cut several test slopes in sheltered below treeline terrain and did not see any signs of instability. 

Once we gained the summit ridge of Incline Lake Peak, we encountered widespread blowing snow and could see new cornices and wind slabs forming. We found a few small wind-loaded test slopes to gather information. Ski kicks on the first test slope did not produce results until we undercut the slope. After that ski kicks would trigger shooting cracks and small wind slab failures up to 8 inches in depth. On another more wind-loaded and steeper (39 degrees) test slope, a ski cut did release an 8-12 inch deep wind slab. Both test slopes were on an exposed ridge and faced NE.  Other slopes that we have previously used as test slopes had very large cornices (more than 10 ft tall) on them. We chose to avoid those slopes and their cornices.  

For the descent, we moved back into sheltered terrain and found soft consistent snow.