Hyalite Traverse

We noted no signs of instability between Hylaite peak and Mt Bole (we conducted quick hand pits and shovel shears along the route). There was a large cornice collapse on an east facing ridge to the west of Divide Peak (photo) and, with sunny weather in the afternoon, we watched out for large overhanging cornices that were getting backed in the sun (photo). On the northeast face of Elephant Mountain, at ~9850ft, we recorded a  sudden planar Q1 shear with easy effort @15cm in a shovel shear test (photo). Although this site was in a small, isolated pocket of wind loading, we will be watching this layer closely going forward.