As we skinned through fresh powder, small cracks turned into bigger cracks as we gained elevation. Looking for answers, we dug a shallow pit on our southeasterly slope, showing 4" of new snow on top of a couple different crusts that comprised about 12" before a bomber ice layer. The new snow mainly just crumbled under the shovel and the general structure seemed fine.

We had already noted a narrow but deep debris pile in the main gully near us, which appeared to have slid off a rock band above.

Continuing up, we traversed a gully as a long crack appeared just above and parallel to our skinner. Each of us actually thought the other person had dragged their pole through the snow, as the line spanned the entire concavity of the slope, just a few feet above our skin track.

At this point, it became clear the conditions weren't safe and we commenced a cautious exit with many pockets of new snow releasing.