Poverty Gulch

We were targeting southerly aspects to see if there are any persistent concerns.  Unfortunately, we found a reactive layer of facets that has formed above the Christmas Crust (melt-layer recrystallization in the snow that fell on Christmas). This layer produced collapses, shooting cracks, and easily propagating test results (ECTPV x 2) where it existed below recently formed slabs.  In contrast to the wind-sheltered snowpack we found on Schuylkill Ridge yesterday, this area was hammered by strong winds.  Slabs were eroded from many areas and redistributed into stiffer, more localized drifts that were easier to identify and avoid by reading drifting textures.  Wind slabs that formed over non-PWLs appeared to be quite stubborn or unreactive. 

We produced collapses and shooting cracks on five separate south and southeast-facing slopes near treeline. Cracks would cross terrain features up to about 50 feet or so. The culprit was a layer of facets above the Christmast crust. Slabs averaged around 45 cm with some amount of drifting.