Fresno Mtn.

Headed up Fresno from the Manitoba parking lot working up the road past the old mining crane. Dust on crust conditions with a supportable crust to about 2,000' eventually becoming less supportable around 2,400' with a few inches of fresh snow. We dug 2 pits at 2,400' on a southeast aspect and another at 2,600'.  The pits at 2,400' (68cm) did not produce concerning results (ECTN9 down 5" on facets above a crust) and there was a frozen layer of ice at the ground with no basal facets present. There were 2 layers of surface hoar, very similar to the Tenderfoot pits, one between two crusts down 5". The pit at 2,600' (60cm) was dryer and more granular at the ground but did not look concerning in tests either (ECTN6 down 6" on surface hoar between crust.). It does suggest a trend that with higher elevation the snow at the ground looks to be dryer and possibly more sugary and weaker.

Regardless, both pits had 2 layers of buried surface hoar as well as facets between some crust layers. It seems these weak layers need a slab on top to become more concerning. More layers to keep track of. There is uncertainty at higher elevations as to how weak these layers near the ground are.