Copper

11/30 check-in: continuing to monitor 11/30 as the main weak layer in the snowpack. At 8,300' on a NE facing slope we found this layer down 60cm under a dense slab of snow, the bottom 35-40cm of which grades from 1F to 1F+. Stability tests yielded ECTP 22, ECTP 28, and CPST 25 and 28/100, both to END. On shaded slopes our familiar stack of weak facets appears to be in a period of stasis. This layer is certainly capable of becoming much more reactive when a significant load is applied. HS ranges from 35-45cm at low elevations and 65-90 cm at middle and upper elevations

Surfaces: Found a widespread pool of large, 2-4cm standing SH from valley bottom up through ~7,600'. Distribution became spottier from 7,600-8,000'. There were shards of SH in places up to 9,000' but the real problem appears to be at lower and the low end of middle elevations where I traveled. It looks like we may bury and preserve this SH with Tuesday's storm. The faceting at the snow surface was not as pronounced here as we've observed in other places recently (Sawtooths, White Clouds, W Smokys), but will still be problematic when loaded. A relatively thin wedge of the compass is building some weak, potentially problematic crust+facet combinations. Due to the low sun angle and shortness of days these crusts appear to be worst from roughly SSE-S-SW, but confidence and evidence pointing to this distribution is low.