First trip this year, snowfall has not been "stellar", 30 cm on Miller Flats snowstake, even less at Mammoth/Cottonwood snotel. Not enough for much recreation, but the never resting SW winds have loaded E/NE ridge-top starting zones. Natural activity at the Big Drift begged investigation, also next slope just east that failed but did not have sufficient steepness to overcome stauch-wall (see pic). As we walked the ridge, fracture lines to the ground ran 30'-40'+ back onto almost flat terrain and had relieved the stored energy. Toured around GE hill and found similar evidence, would suspect similar terrain has gone through failure without producing more slides. SW fetches are almost cleared of snow by wind, north sheltered areas harboring large grained facets at the ground, not that unusual for the plateau, more sheltered snow is shallow but settling out. Lots of jumping would could knock out some remaining hangfire, but is pretty stubborn.
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