Went for a hike from the Guard road and skied N facing off the PC Ridgeline, the S winds had created large and stiff cornices which were quite sensitive and would break back farther than expected and in most places pulled out fresh wind slabs right under them but not very far down the slope. In the terrain covered the wind effect was only prevalent on the upper ridge lines and once down off them the snow was not effected. The structure is still poor in the N facing terrain covered, but no load, no slab equals no avalanches, my thinking is we need more water weight or more wind to overload this type of terrain. The last few days of moderate snowfall with graupel at the base and very little sun has also brought the low angle S facing around and it can now be skied without feeling the bottom.

photos: large cornice drop with a light ski tap, rime on the pine trees pointing S, growing into the wind, low cloud deck