We made it out into southeast Idaho to check out the avalanche conditions today. We found a variety of riding conditions ranging from windboard drifts and sastrugi along upper ridges, to sun effected and crusty snow on slopes facing the southern half of the compass, and decent shallow powder riding conditions in the shady and northern facing terrain.

The avalanche conditions kept us on the mellow slopes for the day. We dug pits on two different slopes and found unstable conditions although more stable on the ESE facing slope.

The first pit was dug on a NNE facing, 23 degree, slope around 8800 feet in elevation. There was a total of approximately 42 inches of total snowpack. Compression tests showed failures on a layer about 8 inches from the surface at 6-8 taps. More concerning failures were located at the new/old snow interface (buried surface hoar), down about 18 inches, the compression tests failed at 13-15 taps. The Extended Column Test had similarly concerning results with a complete propagation failure at 13 taps at that same interface ECTP 13. The old faceted snow under that interface layer is consolidating, but is still fairly sugary.

The second pit was dug on an ESE facing 25 degree slope, at around 8600 feet. There was about 33 inches of snow on the ground. Compression tests showed failures at 3 taps at 3 inches down from the surface. Compressions showed additional failures at 14 inches down failing at 12 and 13 taps. The Extended Column Test failed at 19 taps but did not propagate through the extended column. There was a very stiff ice crust layer at the interface 14 inches down from the surface. Right under that layer was extremely faceted snow

Overall the snowpack seems to be improving but the old faceted snow will keep us on our toes for awhile.