Observations from Fireplug and Tamarack

North facing aspects in this area still held a mix of firm wind affected snow and shallow cold soft snow. Ski cuts and weighting wind loaded test slopes along the Fireplug ridge and snowpit tests on a wind loaded test slope did not reveal any lingering signs of instabilities. These observations indicated the the snowpack continues to settle and consolidate in this area on these aspects. On the opposite side of the compass, the SW-S-SE sun exposed aspects held wet sticky snow that has not been through enough melt freeze cycles to become corn. Skier triggered pinwheels and roller balls occurred on sun-exposed slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Also of note were the very large and very overhanging cornices perched above the steep wind loaded slopes on the far east ridge of Tamarack Peak. 

Photo: Skier triggered loose wet snow instabilities on the S face of Fireplug at 2pm at 9000 ft.