Three Pass Traverse

Saw many aspects and snow conditions on three pass traverse today. Major wind affect in high alpine but snow quality increases down low. We found wind slabs on many different aspects but west seemed to be far and away the most problematic. Significant amount of avalanche debris just below McGill pass and very easy to trigger small slides.

Catamount summit ridge cornice removal caused small(ish) slide. Was making space by removing small cornice. One piece landed on a windslab on the north face of Catamount. Started small where we could see it but increased in size as it went out of sight. Debris field surprisingly large and after we looked back up the slope it had clearly caused a larger slide below. Windslabs prevalent in the alpine and west aspects very touchy (ski down from McGill pass in particular).