We were interested to see why SE-facing aspects may be included among the deep slab instability danger rose, so we decided to dig a pit on one to see what we could find.

We found a snowpack with little energy, but with an interesting structure.  Multiple suncrusts were no surprise, but what was not immediately apparent to us was a stout ice lens just below a suncrust at midpack.  The two crusts sandwiched a <1-cm deep layer of 0.5 mm facets.  Propagation did occur at this interface on ECT28, and I'm wondering if the slab would've popped with more energy if we'd been on a steeper aspect.

Basal facets are healing and weren't reactive in tests.