Schuylkill Ridge

All bets are off with tomorrow's intense loading, but this is one of the first targeted surface hoar outings I've had in recent weeks that showed notable signs of improvement.  The 2/2 surface hoar layer is buried 2 feet deep below treeline and 3.5 feet deep near ridgetop, below hard slabs.  A couple of test pits suggested stubborn to dormant sensitivity.   We skied avalanche terrain one at a time where the snowpack was consistent in depth and with cleaner runouts.  Snow surfaces in wind-protected northerly terrain are very small, near-surface facets.  Winds were starting to move through the typically sheltered terrain and across the snow surface this afternoon.  They were already blasting through exposed terrain by midday.  

No signs of instability underfoot. No avalanches in the past 48 hours.

NE aspect, 9,800':  5 to 6 mm surface hoar buried 60 cm below 1F slab.   ECTX,  PST 95/100 END.  ECTN results with additional loading steps.  

E aspect, 11,300'.  ~10mm surface hoar buried 100 cm below a P slab.  ECTX, PST 85/100 END.  ECTP results with additional loading steps.  

Snow surfaces typically .5 mm near surface facets.