McDermott AST 2 Considerable Hazard

We spent 3 days ski touring out of the McDermott hut in the Tunnel Creek and McDermid area. On Jan 4 we summited Racecar and skied a forested N aspect down into the McDermid drainage. There was whumpfing in sheltered treeline areas. We avoided all slopes above 35 degrees and start zones. On Jan 5 we bailed on a summit of Planetary peak as visibility was poor and ascended to the top of the slope above Tunnel Creek cabin. We skied an E aspect from the ridge in dense forest. The snow quality was excellent here.

We dug 2 test pits and conducted column tests, a propagating saw test, and a Rutschblock test. Observed pops and drops down approx. 70cm on the mid-December surface hoar/facet layer. Test pit on E asp had well preserved surface hoar crystals 5mm in size among facets.

Observed start zone and runout of skier triggered avalanches from the day before. 2nd hand info reported no injuries.