We dug two pits near Strawberry Peak on a North and a South aspect. Most notable was the ECTX result of both pits. This was especially interesting considering we observed multiple collapses and test slopes and road cuts were collapsing/propagating with relative consistency. I think this truly speaks to the variability and complexity of this Persistent Weak Layer problem. We felt a collapse when walking less than 50 ft from a pit that yielded ECTX on the same North aspect and at the same elevation.

Upon testing the same pit with a modified shovel shear test, STM @85cm (HS 110cm) released the new snow with moderate force. After removing the new snow (top ~20cm) and trying again, the column failed the ground before any movement between the basal depth hoar and slab above (see video below).

On the south facing pit (see Photo 1), a weak radiation recrystallization (RR) crust was forming a few centimeters below the surface while the basal facets were moist and gaining cohesivity. ECTX was also observed at this location.

The facet factory is likely to get back to work in the next few days as cold, clear days and nights have created large temperature gradients on polar aspects. In our North facing pit, a temperature gradient of 20C/1m was observed in the top 60cm of the profile. Surface snow is also weakening, with radiation recrystallization faceting occurring on solar aspects and surface hoar on polar aspects.