Overall pretty stable, although there is a much thinner and more structured snowpack than seen in the central cottonwoods. On the Gobbler's side snowpack was pretty much as reported by Drew and Mark; about a meter deep with weakness still around the facet crust sandwhich. However, no propagation in ECT and seems mostly to have settled out for now, pic of pit below (too cold in the shade to take off the gloves and do a profile on the phone). Pit on the Alexander side also attached. Alexander side was weaker with very weak faceted layers around the early December rain crusts. Much easier and cleaner shears (CT 17, Q1; had difficulty cutting the back for the ECT due to some brush and don't trust the results). Although the weak layers may be adjusting to the load (and snow above the weak layers was not very slabby...just 4 finger and fist hardness snow), structure was still too poor for me to feel safe hitting anything big in there. Would be interested to see if warming the next couple of days will accelerate creep at all and initiate anything in these few outlying weak areas.

Weakening snow surface in all open areas from trailhead to ridgeline; top 5 cm or so already faceted in some areas. Pic surface hoar attached.