Kimmerly Basin

Went to Kimmerly Basin as part of a Level 1 class. We found a freshly-buried weak layer that is likely to prove troublesome for awhile.

• One fresh natural avalanche (SS-N-D1.5-O; see avalanche tab) that looked to have run late in the storm on a north-facing, mid-elevation slope.
• The 12/7 rain/snow line looks to be about 52-5300 feet in this basin. 
• Above that, ~12 cm of fresh, loose snow has buried the 12/7 snow surface, which is distinctly different depending on aspect.
• On shaded, mid-elevation slopes, the 12/7 layer consists of large, upright surface hoar (and some facets).
• On sunny slopes at the same elevation, the 12/7 layer is a 1-finger hard, 2-3 cm thick suncrust.
• Snowpack tests showed the 12/7 surface hoar is very weak, but at this location, does not pose much of a hazard. The slab is thin and too soft to propagate a fracture. 
• I'd be very leery of slopes that have a thicker, stiffer slab over this layer. Now or in the near future. 

One fresh natural avalanche but no cracking or collapsing.

From hand pits, 12/7 rain line looks to be about 5200 -5300 feet. Thin, hard ice layer with dry-moist snow below in valleys, then thicker crust (ice+ melt-freeze grains) as you gain elevation. Dry snow below.

At about 6000 feet, HS 120 on shaded slopes; 95-110cm on slopes catching more sun. 10+ cm cohesionless fresh snow over 12/7 surface (6-15 mm upright surface hoar/ facets or melt freeze crust).  Rounds, then AR crust, with some rounding facets below. Snow at ground refrozen. 

On shaded, CTE 3 SC down 10 cm on buried SH. ECTN 6 on same. PST15/100 SF. On solar slope, ECTN 16 on MFcr. Slab does not appear to have the stiffness to propagate a fracture, though the 12/7 is weak.