Sydney Butte

It's hard to imagine getting away with a day of steep riding on shaded middle-elevation slopes without an avalanche. I initiated nearly continuous large collapses on weak snow beneath a 10-24" thick slab. Some of these collapses traveled hundreds of feet and I was surprised that I did not trigger an avalanche. This problem exists in both wind-affected and sheltered terrain. 

Widespread collapsing on middle elevation W-N-E aspects failing on a stack of weak facets, occasionally including surface hoar or a thin crust.

(1/6):
I found a 10-18" slab in wind-sheltered terrain and up to a 24" slab in wind-affected terrain. The weak layer is ugly. Most commonly comprised of a stack of weak (F-) facets that blend right into 11/30 depth hoar near the ground. It also presented as surface hoar above a deteriorating crust. Widespread collapsing that was harder to trigger where wind loaded but a couple of hops usually did the trick. These wind-loaded areas were spooky. The kind that can give little feedback until you look back to see a 2+ foot thick crown. 

Surfaces:
Melt-freeze crusts were present on most sun-exposed slopes. Lower angle and shaded slopes were spared. Surface hoar and near-surface facets developed last night and this morning. These will be buried Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. 

Rain Crust:
I found the (1/19-1/20) rain crust extending up to about 7,700', which is about the same elevation as I found it in the WRV yesterday.