Quick report
Today, we wanted to check out the snow conditions in the Northern Gallatin Range. We rode in at Portal Creek and dug a pit at a saddle above Hidden Lakes. The snow coverage on the first mile of the road was very shallow, making the ride uncomfortable over rocks. However, the snow coverage improved quickly, and after that first mile, the riding is great.
Our snow profile showed us that the snow structure is not great. Near the bottom, there is a 35 cm (~10") fist hard, sugary facet/depth hoar layer. Above that weak layer, there is a dense slab of mostly rounded grains. To our surprise, our test result showed an ECTN28 in the wind slab, but no result on the weak layer (ECTX). However, once we tapped at another time (ECTP31), we observed propagation through the weak layer. That means the snowpack has adjusted to its load. Natural avalanches seem very unlikely now, but the weak layer is still there and will propagate if triggered. This snowpack structure doesn't need much new load from the next snowstorm to be very reactive on those bottom facets again.