Deer Creek area

Wet loose activity expanded to east and south facing above treeline slopes and northerly aspects near treeline.  On the southern half of the compass below 11,000', numerous freeze-thaw cycles have matured the snow surface to a point where it is now harder to get wet loose activity to gain momentum.  Meltwater is on the move again and breaking down the strong and thick upper snowpack crust that was so reliable for stability all week.  My concerns, or at least uncertainty, for wet slabs are increasing.  

This afternoon, boot pen was typically about 6" into wet snow, with the strong crust below retaining just enough strength to be supportive.  In a few spots, snowmobile pen was punching deeply.  On an east-facing slope near the top of Union Chute at 11,300', meltwater was pooling on two layers about 45 cm deep, which was about halfway to a moist layer of depth hoar at the ground.  Stability tests produced hard, non-propagating results on the depth hoar.