Bearpaw

30-40cm of snow over thick old crust 5000-6000ft. Snow was well bonded to underlying crust. The only failures we found were new/old storm interface, about halfway down to the crust. Compression tests yielded hard resistant planar results and extended column tests didn't propagate. Extensive slope testing did not produce any avalanches or cracking, but we stayed off large, unsupported steep slopes. 

At 5500' and 5000ft pits, the large layer of melt forms beneath the new snow was only 5-10cm thick, and snow was moist and loose beneath that.

Along ridgelines wind transport was active, and slabs were up to a foot thick. We spent very little time in this terrain and avoided steeps, but slabs were stubborn. 

Small amounts of wind transport were visible in most terrain we were in, but snow remained low density. Riding was good.