Schallenberger Ridge

Shallenberger Ridge proved to be just as variable as the rest of the forecast area, with a few interesting differences. As far as snow surfaces go, we mostly found a mix of breakable crusts, firm crusts, and firm uneven "tree-bombed" surfaces on the northerly aspects. The exception was some areas of soft, cold snow on steep, open, north-facing slopes between 7200 ft and the highest point on the ridge at 7465 ft. On the south side of the ridge, the melt-freeze crusts remained firm, and the mini-penitentes formed by differential melting were widespread. 

The interesting differences existed at the lower elevations, where we found thin crusts composed of refrozen surface hoar sitting on top of a melt-freeze crust. This crust rested atop weak, sugary snow. This snow structure was widespread below about 6800  ft and quickly changed to the previously mentioned breakable crusts and tree-bombed surfaces with little to no surface hoar above 6800 ft. Layers like this have been problematic in the past, so it will bear watching.