Schuylkill Mtn / Ridge

We found a poor snowpack structure that is difficult to trigger (stubborn) but capable of producing a destructive avalanche if you do.  Test results showed a mix of non-propagating (ECTN) and propagating results after additional loading steps under 2 to 3 foot slabs.  

Between 11,000' to 11,500', HS decreased from 150 cm near Schuylkill Mtn down to about 100 cm on Schuylkill Ridge near the Great Wide Open.  In our first pit (HS 150cm, east aspect), we found a 90 cm hard slab that propagated in an ECT only after additional loading steps.  Stability tests looked more encouraging as we moved towards the thinner snowpacks downvalley, with a pair of ECTNH results where slabs were softer and thinner, down to about 60 cm and 4F near the Great Wide Open.