Observation: Wilson Peak

Started touring up Butler Fork around 0900 under a cold, clear sky with a light breeze. By 1030, south facing slopes were getting intense UV but the light breeze was keeping the snow surface cold and locked up. Winds were moderate on ridgelines; there was increasing cloud cover and decreasing winds throughout the day. North slopes stayed bitterly cold throughout the day.

I preformed an ECT and Shovel Shear test on a N facing pit at 9k' in a sheltered area below Wilson peak. Total depth was 85cm with a weak layer of graupel at 40cm. ECT and Shovel Shear test produced null results. It appeared that just about any skiable, steep slope in this area had been heavily skied with no indications of avalanches or sluffing. Some of the surface hoar is getting huge and there is a lot of spatial variability in the top layer.