1-2' of wind-drifted new snow on N aspect of ridgeline failed and propagated on interface with prior snow, not on buried PWL. Pit was dug higher up ridgeline with results on new snow interfaces and buried PWL (see separate observation for full profile), though on different aspect (WNW), without the same wind loading problem. No skier-triggered avalanches observed on that aspect (W, NW).

Given WNW pit results higher up ridgeline (buried PWL), our group of seven decided to descend the ridgeline back to lower angle and elevation terrain, rather than ski any north aspects. This was our expected plan and was confirmed throughout our ascent and pit tests: we noted significant wind transfer on our ascent, and our pit - while on a different aspect - confirmed a persistent weak layer of rounded facets comprising the bottom ~30cm of the snowpack, which while obviously rounding & trending towards consolidation, remained reactive. On the descent, the first skier in our group triggered three separate wind slabs in quick succession, to skier's right (N aspect) while skiing the ridgline. This was expected given NW through SW wind throughout the day. Crowns were 12-24", where new, wind-drifted snow failed on its interface with prior storm's snow. Crowns broke below skier and skier was not knocked off balance, remaining on ridgeline. Failures propagated no more than 20 ft horizontally (width of each chute), but ran for at least 75 ft before disappearing out of sight.