Persistent slab remains biggest concern. Surface hoar (SH) and faceted snow (NSF) that formed from approximately Jan 13 - 18 is now buried 45 - 90 cms (18-36") down in the snowpack. Spatial variability, and it seems to be more of a problem at the low and mid elevations. I could find some NSF in Maybird this morning, but poor quality shears. I could not find any SH in Maybird. Overall the NSF layer seemed to be gaining strength. ECTX.
Visited Beartrap slide from Tuesday. This was on a steep SW aspect at 8800'. I found a very reactive layer of NSF sitting just atop temperature crust. This is down 50-60 cms (~2'). On my skin up to look at the slide I dug pits along the way, and on all pits on this aspect I was getting full propagation with extended column tests with Q1 quality (popping out with quite a bit of energy.) At the top of the slope - just above the top of the slide - on a steep (approaching 40 degrees) the extended column was shearing upon isolation. I also got one very loud collapse on this slope.
Take home for me - stability in Maybird + reactive persistent layer in another canyon = variable and complex snowpack.
