Spring Creek

I dug four pits on three aspects from 9400' down to 8600' none of which showed signs of propagation. Collapse was progressive through various storm snow layers, nothing that you wouldn't expect given the temperature swings and periods of wind during the past storm. None of the interfaces displayed clean or fast shear qualitiesThe lack of cracking, even on the wind exposed knob, tells me that the wind and storm slabs are bonding and settling. The deeper faceted layers or crust-facet layers also appear to be rounding, damping and otherwise being crushed out of existence though today's burial in Indian Creek is a good reminder that the December persistent layer is still a concern, most likely in areas with a thinner snowpack where the layer is closer to the surface.  Steep rocky, previously scoured areas at mid and upper elevations and mid-elevation with less than a meter of snow on the ground (below 8,500') fit that description.  All in all, the snow was great despite a scattered wind stiffened layer down 40-50cms. Obstacles are less near the surface but remain a concern.