Good sledding on Buck Ridge

The snow Ranger Crew got out and about on Buck Ridge today.  Trail in was in OK shape but is likely to melt back and get worn down over the next few days from sun and sled traffic.  Riding started to get quite good above about MM7; snow was generally supportable and ranged from 50-85cm deep for the most part.  Open areas had some wind effect but there were few hard drifts/slabs.  Anywhere that was sheltered from the wind had a layer of surface hoar forming, not surprisingly.  The head of Beaver Creek was scoured nearly to dirt and the cornice is quite large there already.  We noted one small wind slab avalanche just below it.  We found a similar avalanche in Second Yellowmule that again appeared to be from wind loading.  Both appeared to be several days old.  We dug a quick pit on a north facing slope in Second Yellowmule and had an ECTN in 85cm of snow.  Only the bottom 5cm or so of that pit were sugary and faceted.