Toured just SE of Ant Knolls on Saturday 1-8-22

There was 4-5" of new dense snow on top of a very solid / dense snow pack that ranged between 40-50" on an East facing slope.

Dug pit at ~9200 ft East facing on an open face on ~20 degree slope. Snowpack overall loooked and dug solidly. Very slabby/dense snow that seemed well connected.

ECTP 23 on top 14-15" layer seemed to break at the interface/PWL between storm cycles. There was an obvious decomposing melt/freeze crust 10" about the ground that I suspected would fail but did not even after some hits after 30. Also ground has 2-3" of faceted snow that also did not cause failure above.

My take away is that there is enough stronger snow above those layers to support riders, for now. However, if those layers are triggered it will be game over, potentially stepping down to the ground. The snow is very well connected, especially in the middle of the pack and therefore anything above it. Having skied and dug a number pits around Ant Knolls this fall, i know northern facing aspects will be an even bigger issue/risk esp those not seeing the sun.

We rode 25-28 degree slopes and it was good, but would caution anything 30+ E thru NW