This area has had some of the weakest facets I have found. I last dug here on 12/28, thirteen days ago, when the November facets were breaking easily in stability tests with propagation and the column would pop out like a cash register and there were natural avalanches along cut banks.

Things have changed a lot as this PWL has been buried deeper and insulated. It took the full 30 taps for it to break in an ECT. I'm not too worried about it.

What reallly stood out to me were all the non-propagating breaks in my ECT. While none of them propagated a crack across the column, they indicated to me how many layers of relatively new storms now there are. In a short amount of time they will heal, but for now they would cause me to still keep things in check. In a different location with maybe a bit more wind or any subtle difference during a storm, one of those interfaces could produce an avalanche. As long as it keeps snowing, I will hold fast. As soon as it stops, all these interfaces and layers will quickly bond (they are already) and it will be game on.

There was widespread natural activity in the top 6 inches which shows how fickle new snow can be. The most subtle variation in snow denisty, crystal type, or anything can create an unstable slab of new snow. If these were deeper, they would be a problem. Perhaps on Jan 11 with more snow on top, it could break on the same layer as these mini avalanches and be a problem for about a day or so.

Moderate danger for this location. Main issue up higher was and will be more new snow and wind that will make the danger considerable