Furry and fun, now

Took advantage of stable high pressure to visit one of the windiest spots in the forecast region, looking for data about the current snow surface and basal weak layers.

• We found weak snow at or near the base of the snowpack in 3 profiles, but test results were inconsistent or inconclusive. We either got propagation w hard force (image), no failures or propagation, or failures w moderate force in a small column test but but no failures in a large column test. These basal weak layers seem dormant except perhaps on slopes with shallow snowpacks. We did not investigate windward slopes.
• The melt-freeze crust that formed in the 1/12-13 storm was present to our high point at 6700 ft. It ranged from 1 to 8 cm thick, with the thickest crust on sunny, mid elevation slopes. 
• A trace of new snow sits on the MFcr - mostly rimed stellars that glisten like surface hoar but aren't (image). We found a few surface hoar grains on the shadiest, coldest slopes. 
• The MFcr made for slow but mostly predictable carving and sidehilling (image) to our high point with snowmobiles (5800'). Mostly (image).
• Above 5800' the riding on both skis and snowboards was a wonderful, laughter-prompting surprise - easily and predictably carvy, with no need for sharps. We suspect the crust has softened slightly with exposure to cold temps. 
• Lots of evidence of last week's natural avalanche cycle from river level to about 6500 ft. (images; avalanche tab to be filled out later). 
• Views were fantastic.