We dug two pits on NNW aspects, one at 9,000' and one at 8,000'. The profiles have a similar appearance: In both cases we saw facets at the ground, the mid-February dust layer only 20-25cm up, a melt freeze crust roughly 30 cm' above that, a poss. faceted graupel layer right above the crust and then right-side-up snow to the surface. However, the higher elevation pit revealed dry snow and the lower elevation pit was damp throughout most of the layers.

At the 8,000' site we poured water on the surface and found it traveled on a layer change between storm rounds as well as on and in the melt freeze crust.

Extended column test results (or lack thereof) did not highlight a weak layer that could propagate a fracture.