Clear bluebird day. Air temps around freezing at 12k in the early afternoon. Light to moderate wind blowing snow on ridgetops from W to E. Variable snow depth above TL from 20cm in open areas to 100cm in leeward depressions. No obvious signs of instability on approach. Isolated wind slab stubborn on interaction with small, convex test slopes. Dug in one wind drifted area with a snow depth of 100cm and a pencil hard layer (DFbk 0.5mm) on top of a 4F layer (DFbk 0.5mm). ECTP11 on the interface of strong over weak layers in the upper snowpack.

Up Express Creek to Taylor Pass.