Groundhog day a-comin?

Wandered around the west end of the Smoky Range above Canyon Creek, looking for the Persistent and Wind Slab problems. 

• No collapses, shooting cracks, or triggered slabs. 
• Persistent Slab problem seemed most hazardous on steep, mid-elevation slopes open to the sky (W-N-E aspects where I traveled)
• Found Jan. 17 reactive in tests where visible as a gray stripe of surface hoar buried about 15" under the current snow surface (below about 6300 ft on shady aspects)
• Jan. 17 interface was not reactive in tests where not visible (above about 6300 ft on shady aspects)
• Jan. 22 rain crust did not propagate in tests
• Found old cornices but no fresh wind slabs
• Several layers at the snow surface now could develop into persistent weak layers if buried intact (large surface hoar on shady slopes; surface hoar and facets above crust on sunny slopes)
• Calm, cool temps after cold start to morning.