Weak Snowpack at Goose Creek

Today I toured up to Chestnut Ridge via Goose Creek Trail. I noticed many wind deposits on the upper ridgeline that were actively thickening from the gusty Western winds (roughly 25mph average at the ridge). I dug a quick pit at 7370' on an Eastern aspect under the ridgeline and got some very touchy results. My HS was 125cm. I got a CT4, sudden collapse, Q1, breaking within a thick layer of advanced basal facets. The slab that came off was 85cm in height and very cohesive. Between the obvious wind loading near the ridge and my test result (which, I'm sure I could have replicated based on my probing of the area), our party decided to stay completely out of avalanche terrain and ski a few runs on mellow meadows and glades nearby. Minimal new snow fell during our tour -- just broken skies and a healthy dose of wind moving through the area. Stay safe out there through this storm cycle!