Gallatin Peak

This morning we toured up to Gallatin Peak from Beehive Basin. On the approach we noted several large old wet loose releases on south to east facing aspects (photo). We ascended Gallatin Peak on the west face and observed a breakable wind crust ~3cm thick. This crust sheared very easily (broke off while isolating), but no propagation was observed while performing slope cuts. During our descent of the north face, we noticed that this crust was present on the northeast chute from the summit but much thicker (~8cm) and supportive, and was mostly absent from the north face below the northeast chute. A quick hand shear on the north face yielded an easy, planar shear at ~15cm (photo).  At the base of the peak we observed the remnants of a small natural slab, which appeared to have failed at this same interface (photo). During our exit, at around 10am, the sun was already doing its work and we observed fresh pinwheels on an eastern aspect (photo)