No Observed Avalanche Activity

We measured 14" of snow from Tuesday's storm with 1.6" of snow water equivalent. We were encouraged that we did not see any natural (or human-triggered) avalanche activity. However, there is a significant caveat to this. East to Northeast winds stripped the steep slopes of Carrot and Sage Basins that are regularly wind-loaded by the prevailing winds. Thick drifts in abnormal locations were evident. Ridgetop were we rode had pillows of drifted snow and we could see cornices running downhill on the SW side of Sage Peak that indicated the gullies and depressions were cross-loaded. We dug a couple of pits. The first, in Sage Basin was unremarkable. The second, at the edge of Sunlight Basin, yielded an ECTP23 on a layer of facets/ surface hoar buried two feet deep. 

We avoided wind-loaded slopes and recommend digging to test weak layers in the upper three feet of the snowpack before riding/ skiing in steep terrain.