Buried surface hoar and facets on Big Mountain

Staff and volunteer rescue and skills training at the summit of Big Mountain.  The snowpack here is weak, shallow, and generally stable.  The structure is quite worrisome for future storms.

• We found surface hoar in every pit location on various aspects, well preserved under 3" - 4" of recent snow.  The rest of the snowpack is mostly all faceted, ~2' deep.  See profile.
• The recent storm snow is too thin and soft here to pose a storm slab problem.  No cracking observed; stability tests failed easily but the slab would fracture before propagating.
• Light winds and no recent snow transport.  Generally light snowfall with minimal accumulations.  Obscured by fog.