New snow avalanches and crusts

We rode into the Throne from battle ridge and skinned up the east face. We saw three new snow avalanches (previously reported) on the SE and E faces of the Throne where we parked the sleds. Surface crusts are quite variable depending on slope angle, aspect, and shading from trees. The crust was generally present and breakable on the SE and E aspects we traveled on. We dug a quick pit on at the base of the E face. ECTP16 on 1 mm facets underneath last weekends snow. We measured  50 cm (20") of new snow with 2" snow water equilavent.  Dug again in the crown of one of the slides. The new snow had consolidated a bit because of a more southerly aspect (~16" deep), but there was also 2" of SWE in the crown. Slide broke on small facets above a firm crust. The slides all appear to have run mid storm or just as it was ending. One of the slides was clearly skier triggered, the others are unknown.

The presence of facets under the new snow means that it'll take longer for that new snow to stabilize.