Powderking

<p>Ski quality is improving. 20cm of new snow is sitting on top of the widespread firm surfaces. I found 3 surface hoar layers on an East aspect buried in wind-affected terrain at treeline: -Down 20 cm under the new snow up to size 10mm and is mixed with previous surface facets -Down 30cm, size 3mm and spotty -Down 60cm, size 10mm The interface down 20cm was reactive in compression tests at CTE 1, 2 SC and was collapsing on the old surface facets. The layer down 30cm was reactive in the moderate range at CTM 11, 12 and had a resistant character. The layer down 60cm was reactive in the hard range at CTH 25, 28 and was sudden planar in character (it wanted to slide). This interface has a hefty slab sitting above it (1F hardness). Most surprising was just to see such significant surface hoar in such a classically windy place. There was a recent wind slab out from the last 12 hrs at the top of Azu Bowl under the large cornice, NE aspect. We also had some shooting cracks in sheltered pockets near ridgetop on the surface hoar down 60cm. Another group indicated they experienced the same thing on the other ridge opposite the bowl. The group of kids jumping off the large cornice on the NW aspect of Azu bowl appeared to have no results in their snowpack tests. Buckle your seatbelts</p>

Avalanche Conditions

Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.