By 4 pm we were finding sensitive pockets of fresh drifts as low as 7800' 5-15 cms thick. NE/E winds were drifting and cross-loading snow on all aspects at mid and upper elevations. The few pockets we encountered were sensitive, and may remain sensitive for Tuesday.

Much focus has been on the "October facets" that are found on upper elevation aspects facing northwest through east. In areas of the upper Cottonwoods where there is a strong, 1+ meter slab on top of the facets down near the ground it is less of an issue. This past week we have been looking at areas with a thinner snowpack, less than a meter. In these areas the old snow underneath the snowfall since Christmas has been faceting, and with cold, clear weather forecast for the next several days this snowpack will continue to weaken. Currently there is not a cohesive slab on top, but with an additional load of new snow and/or wind-blown snow, we may see these mid-pack faceted layers become active.