Wind and sun were the themes of today. I saw one small, intentionally triggered soft slab avalanche on steep, north facing terrain near tree line. I also observed active snow transport throughout my tour, found wind slabs of varying thickness and experienced cracking on wind loaded features. Solar aspects below and near tree line developed a melt freeze crust, also with varying thickness.

From the tunnel, we skinned on the summer trail up to the Crater Lake chutes area on east and southeast aspects below and near tree line and descended the same route.

Rec tour. Crater Lakes area.

I spoke with the party who intentionally triggered the small avalanche via a ski cut. They shared it broke about 10-15 feet across at the top with a 4–6-inch crown.

Probing below tree line on southeast aspects around 10,000ft, I found the height of snow was around 170cm. Exposed south and east facing aspects had melt freeze crusts below and near tree line. When we arrived at Crater Lake, the west wind was moderate to strong with active snow transport. Various signs of wind effect were visible: a thin wind skin, breakable wind slabs, sastrugi and large wind drifted features. I experienced cracking on wind slabs that were more than 4cm thick. The snow I found immediately underneath breakable wind slabs was moist, likely from yesterday's sun.

Warm, windy, clear to few skies and active snow transport.