This west aspect near treeline enjoys wind loading from northerly winds. I observed a fairly stiff slab (1F) sitting on Jan. Facets. I was not able to get any failures with an ECT. A propagation saw test did produce results (PST20/100 END down ~100cm) As far as I can tell, this is a classic example of "SCARY" moderate. Difficult to trigger, but the snowpack structure is still quite poor and large destructive avalanches are still possible. All you need is to find a trigger point where the slab thins. It seems like the last several pits I have dug have fairly mild temperature gradients in the lower snowpack, suggesting that perhaps some bonding is occurring. In the top 30 cm, however, larger temperature gradients are consistent, and some of the surface snow could be faceting with our large, daily temperature swings. Something to keep our eyes on as mid March looks to be stormy!

This pit below treeline on a NE aspect contained an unreactive slab on top of weaker facets. No propagation was observed. There was a weak layer at the Feb. 13 interface, but again, no propagation.

This SW aspect near treeline at 11, 300' reminded me of a Napoleon dessert. I counted 6 different sun crusts that formed during periods of high pressure and sunny skies. While I did get an ECTP 23, 28 on basal facets, I am interpreting this as a false instability as the myriad of sun crusts are probably providing strength and fracture initiation is unlikely. (See VOL. 26, NO. 2, DECEMBER 2007 THE AVALANCHE REVIEW for details).

Above treeline on this West aspect at 11,500', the wind has built a dense, 1 finger slab on top of facets. I was not able to produce propagation with an ECT.