On a north facing slope at 10,780' I got ECTP 29 down 65cm on 2mm rounding facets with F+ density. This is a stubborn test result, but F+ hardness beneath all of the snow that fell since 2/14 is alarming. The poor structure is obvious in the photo below.

On a NE facing slope at 10,800' in the same area, I found a slightly thicker slab. The weak layer is buried deeper beneath the surface and produced ECTX x2. A Deep Tap test scored DT27 RP (resistant planar) down 60cm on 1.5mm rounding facets with F+ density. This is a stubborn result for a Deep Tap test. A PST (propagation saw test) scored PST 39/100 END down 60cm on the same layer of rounding facets. The weak layer was hard to trigger on this slope, most likely because of the thick 1F slab on top, but the PST result tells us that if triggered, this structure will propagate a failure and produce a slab avalanche. As we know, the snowpack is far from uniform across a slope; it is possible to trigger this weak layer anywhere the slab is thinner or softer. This is not a set up I am willing to trust my life with.

A key point to remember is that for much of the season the snowpack has been very shallow. Shallow snow is weak snow. The faceted layers have remained weak all season long. Typically by this time of year, we have a deeper snowpack and the facets have had a chance to gain some strength. This is not a typical winter. The weak layers need more time to gain strength.