We ascended the Crater Lake Couloir to ~11,550 feet on an E/NE aspect. ATL. We saw minimal signs of wind slab activity, minor cracking, minimal hollow drum sound, etc. We performed 2 hand shear tests before ascending the steeper 35+ degree final ~500 feet to the ridgeline. We found evidence of a concerning interface ~25cm down. 2 hand shear tests were performed which identified a <1cm weak layer with 20 - 25cm of very hard pack windslab on top (slab was P/K thickness). Slab was stubborn, but broke on "hard" hand shear in planar fashion (Q2- / Q3). We believe that layer could have been reactive albeit stubborn, and we elected to descend from that point instead of ascending into steeper terrain

We skinned from the East Moffat tunnel TH near Tolland, CO. Skinned northwest into the Crater Lake chutes near Forest Lakes. Our goal was to descend Crater Lake Couloir.