After digging a pit, examining the snow pack, and performing a shovel compression test our group decided to ski the North East Aspect of Laurel Ridge draining into Horse Creek. This shot is about 30-36 degrees. One at a time to safe zones we descended the run. About half way down I skied over a crown about 25 ft. across. At that moment I popped a small soft slab as I cut across the slope to a safe zone. I had cut loose some more of the slope above the original crown. No one was buried or injured in our party. Just a slight increase in pitch changed the character of the snow pack.