Did a double-header of sorts - morning tour up Grizzly -> Wolverine Bowl - > Catherine's followed by a quick Alta perimeter outing late in the day. In the morning I was noting the layer of near-surface facets that formed this past week underneath the storm snow. I dug down in numerous spots on a variety of elevations and northerly aspects and was consistently finding a 1-3 cm (1"+) layer of well-preserved facets underneath the new snow. What was missing however, was any sort of slab on top to activate this weak layer. I was unable to find any recent wind deposits and the thin covering of new snow was simply not enough of a load. Some sluffing in the new snow on steeper aspects.

I and many others had noted surface hoar as well that began to form late last weekend. However, in all quick hand pits today I could not find any preserved surface hoar.

Late afternoon outing was highlighted by riming/glazing on the goggles, although I was unable to find any rime crust on the snow surface.

The old snow surface had quite a bit of spatial variability, however I was consistently finding a layer of well-preserved near-surface facets, and going forward I'll be watching this weak layer that is sitting 10-15 cms below the snow surface.