Helen Shoulder Burn

Skied on the burn area on Helen Shoulder. About 15-20cm of fresh powder, though snow depth was variable and there were open creek crossings on the approach. The wind was kicking up snow tornadoes at parkway level and peeling snow off the ridges, but significantly less wind in the burn. Dug a quick pit about half way up the burn. 50-60 cm with 15-20cm of storm snow sitting on a thin crust, which was on a thick layer of unconsolidated facets (on glove in image). There were pockets of deeper snow, and the snow quality was a bit stiffer higher up where there was likely some wind effect. Ridgelines were being scoured, and we saw obvious signs of crossloading on other slopes. No signs of instability where we we skied, and we did not see any signs of recent avalanches, though visibility was limited.