Ross Peak, Banana Couloir

This morning we toured up Ross Peak to check out the Banana Couloir. Ascending up the East face, we noticed that recent snow was much less consolidated than what we observed on Flathead Pass and the wind slab much less cohesive. A western wind was scouring the eastern slopes near the top of the ridge, leaving nothing crust near the summit. The descent alternated between sun crust and wind buff. Without significant sun today, the snow remained cool and no increase in instability was noted. Photo shows rime deposition on trees by a humid west wind, with Ross Pass as the backdrop.