Huntoon

Avalanche danger observed as Low with phenomenally good riding conditions, but a weak snowpack structure still undermines confidence in steep and unsupported terrain. There are tracks on suspect slopes, but plenty of other steep slopes are untouched and untested. It seems like one would need to find the right combination of factors to trigger a dangerous slab avalanche including -  but not limited to - areas where there is less snow over the drought layer facets, extremely unsupported slopes, and maybe even slopes that didn't look like in-bounds, ski area terrain before the start of snowfall on Jan 30th.  The faceted layer suspected of producing recent natural and human-triggered avalanches is gaining strength, but observed as still weak enough to produce propagation in large column tests.

A trace of F new snow at the surface. +100cm of snow over the Jan 30th interface, very right side up with a gradual progression from F > 4F > 1F. On southerly aspects, two knife-hard crusts sandwiching a layer of small rounding facets are found below the most recent snow. More small, rounding facets below the lower crust as well. CT's produced no results at the 1/30 interface or in faceted snow below the upper crust. DT produced sudden planar results down 108cm. PST 40/120 End in same facet layer.  No slab formation from wind transport was observed. Some southerly aspects hold a weak crust at the surface from sun and warming on 2/4. Top 50cm of PP and DF showing signs of faceting.