Bit of a combined observation here from today and also Monday 2/12 regarding what I've seen of the PWL in my pits. Monday I dug in 4 places in the Pink Pine area: low angle N and steep E (one on the pink pine ridge and one at the bottom) and W, all around 8000'. All three showed very well rounded facets that were quite hard; I did not investigate further. I did probe extensively in the area and found HS to be 160-170cm in most places; same as where I dug my pits and found stable snow. Today I did a full pit near the base of the slide path below Birthday Chutes on a NW facing rollover that gets some wind. HS 150cm. The only layer of concern was the early season facets on the gound- the December drought layer is well-rounded, hard, bonded to the snow above it, and earned a PST score of 100/110. The facets at the ground (down 120cm here, 30cm thick layer) showed substantial rounding but are still 1-2mm and 4F hard with a very thick and generally pencil hard slab above them. No collapse in 2 CTs and a deep tap test. PST 87/110. These facets don't show sufficient weakness or energy for propagation, but the poor structure is still somewhat there with 3-4 lemons (is a fairly well-rounded facet still a persistent grain?). This problem is clearly headed in the right direction and I haven't been able to find a spot with substantially weak snow in the upper cottonwoods of late.
