Fred's Mountain, Targhee

~9,000 feet and below, there was really no avalanche concern, just a travel concern of thin snow cover. Above ~9,000 feet, the snowpack becomes more complex. Where early-season snow did not melt off here, there are a few apparent interfaces near the base of the snowpack. In some locations, the base of the snowpack is a stout layer of melt-freeze grains at the ground, and in other places, larger-grained faceted snow is developing.

Found an average settled snow depth of 60-70cm @ 9,600 feet, and looking a lot better at the base of the snowpack than I had anticipated: mostly decomposing older along with a mixed bag of melt-freeze crusts and winded snow, all topped with a bit of fresh snow and surface hoar.  Good old early-season spatial variability means that exposed or due solar slopes held averages of around 10-20cm, an additional thing to watch out for if taking the boards for a walk here.

I'm curious to check a due NE this week as that likely holds a deeper pack and weaker snow.  Additionally, a week of high pressure and cold temps will drive some widespread faceting.