Date of Observation: 01/08/2021
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Location: End of Washington Gulch
Aspect: South
Elevation: 10,000-12,000
Avalanches: Older natural on Baldy (previously reported)
Weather: sunny, low 20’s up high out of wind. Slight breeze on top. No snow transport.
Snowpack: Variety of depths as we skinned up maxing out at approx 120 cm on a below treeline south facing low angle slope. Small steeper and shallower S and SW pockets below treeline had a sun crust. Majority of the snow in protected areas was soft and awesome. Climbing the ridge between south and southeast bowls also varied in depth with new, wind loaded snow sitting on a slick and very firm surface in some spots. South facing bowl had a hint of a crust on steeper portion of descent (pole punched through the pack on one pole plant) that turned into cold pow once angle diminished. Partner found softer snow on eastern tilt of the south bowl. Ski pen 6 inches.