AST Dec 31 Mt Wash

Sharpen your ski edges. It is firm out there! The big hazards of the day were not avalanche related but more related to potential slips/falls on the hard icy snow or hitting exposed objects like rocks, dirt patches or open creeks with the low snow levels. From 1100 to 1300m on a southern aspect we found widespread surface hoar (up to 4mm) sitting on a very hard and impenetrable crust that was 15-20 cm thick. Under the crust was 15-20 cms of well settled moist snow. The lower snowpack had a second thicker crust (approx 30-40cm) with 5cm of large weak basal facets at the ground level. Tests mainly had no results except for one compression test that produced a moderate failure with a somewhat planar character just above the second/lower crust. Looking around we could see evidence of previous loose wet avalanche activity out of steep rocky terrain but nothing was moving today with the colder temps.