Hazelton Range - Date Creek FSR

Nov. 3, 2017 We skied a N-NE aspect in the Hazelton Range off the Date Creek FSR. The temperature was -5. The weather was sunny with moderate to strong westerly wind gusts, with wind transport at ridgetop. We observed a recent size 1.0 NA in the high alpine on a North aspect that broke just below ridge top over a shallow wind scoured rocky area. We observed another crown & 1.0-1.5 NA debris in the high alpine on a NE aspect that had cornices formed over the ridge top above it. We dug a pit ~1m deep on a sheltered NE facing ridge just above treeline. Did not do column tests. HS was 180cm. 12cm of fresh snow. Snow progressively got denser as it got deeper with a weaker (less dense) lower at 40cm down. No rain crust or sugary snow observed. Group of 5, we skied 2 lee-treed runs along treeline, one on an East aspect and one on a North aspect. Excellent ski quality. We observed wind scouring & shallower HS overall on alpine westerly aspects. We also experienced one snow crack (~5m width) at treeline on a lee East aspect when the last of the 5 skiers dropped in. It did not run. No whumping, hollow snow, or other cracking observed.