Ross Peak/ Banana Couloir

This morning we toured up Ross Peak to check out the effects of the heat and sun these past few days. On our ascent, we observed the potential for wet slabs on an eastern aspect through a series of hand shear tests (photo). The top most layer displayed a Q1 shear quality with medium effort. To the north, we observed a natural wet slab on a southern aspect (photo). Runnels were widespread in the area, and observed on southern to northeastern aspects (photo). We found a breakable sun crust above the recent snow on eastern and north eastern aspects. In the Banana, we observed debris from wet loose releases off the cliff face that travelled far down the southern face (photo). We were travelling in this area before temperatures climbed too high, but signs of instability are becoming more obvious on all aspects. Driving along the Bridger Range, wet loose slides and smaller wet slabs were widespread by the afternoon.