Here’s another quick observation from the Patrol Fund Level 1 class. Today we toured up Skook Peak and observed no obvious signs of instability. Our groups dug hasty pits on west, south and southeast aspects at elevations between 6500' and 6800'. In the pits, we found a generally consistent snowpack structure that included a persistent weak layer of facets ~35cm below the surface despite varying total snow depths (130cm - 220cm). All hasty pits produced non-propagating failures on this weak layer under generally hard force... except one (pictured) which propagated under moderate force (ECTP12 @ 145cm). This propagating result was at 6650' on a due south 29* slope. Spatial variability abides!
We also observed cool temperatures (low 20s F), calm winds, no obvious wind slab development, and continued improved skiing quality with the consolidated 10-15cm of new snow keeping the crust skiing at bay.
