Quick walk up Silver Fork from Solitude to the top of West Bowl of Silver Fork. I have only toured in LCC this season, so was curious what the snowpack looked like on the other side of the ridges. No detailed pits - lots of quick hand pits and pole probes to get an overall sense of what the snowpack looked like. Overall was finding less snow in Silver Fork than at similar elevations in LCC. Additionally, I was finding the 30cms of depth hoar in upper elevations of LCC to be quite loose and dry. The depth hoar layer where I was traveling today was shallower (10-15 cms/4-6") with damp grains.

Was finding widespread soft and hard wind slabs primarily on leeward aspects from the recent East winds, but ascending East-facing West Bowl of Silver Fork, was also finding cross-loading on subridges. My partner and I were able to get several of the wind slabs to crack out 1-3 m (3-10'). These were all failing on a layer of decomposing fragments (DFs) from the Wednesday/Thursday storm snow. Slabs were mostly 15-30 cms and varied from 1F to P hardness. However, many of the recent wind slabs were not sensitive, and I suspect they will continue to become less sensitive.

Big picture remains at avoiding steep, upper elevation northerly aspects with recent wind loading.

Overall was surprised at the decent travel and skiing conditions. Our snowpack is not (yet) a facet wallow, and travel conditions are quite good on firm snow. Was buzzed by a pair of eagles while ascending West Bowl. Pretty nice.