We dug a test pit to examine the early season PWL in a thin (HS: 130cm) and northwest facing snowpack. This pit was dug at ~8800' in the Butler Fork zone. The snowpack is generally rightside up with a soft (F) layer of snow on the top ~30cm of the snowpack. There is a slight density change at approximately 100cm and transitions to firmer (1F to P) slabs. The greatest layer of concern is at ~25cm where the early PWL is still present. The layer was 4F hardness and consisted of what appeared to be rounding facets.

Our Extended Column Test yielded no result after the standard loading steps (ECTX). We were able to initiate a crack and propagation with a skier jumping hard on the block.

We also observed some small surface hoar on this north facing aspect from ~8500' to 8900'.