Anthracite Mesa HP (Elkton Knob)

Today's storm fell well short of the forecasted amounts with around 6 inches of new snow.  Newly formed drifts appeared isolated near treeline in this area, but the drifts we did find were sensitive.  Drifted slopes that harbor facets above last week's meltdown crust and below newly formed slabs will likely remain sensitive and produce triggered avalanches for at least a few days into the future.    

New snow of roughly 6 inches at 2 pm near Elkton (11,000 feet).  We toured near treeline looking for drifted snow and found isolated pockets on the east half of the compass.  Nearby avalanche terrain had not drifted much, so our assessment and snowpit occurred on tiny drifted features.  Easterly aspects in this area formed an unusual facet/crust set up this past weekend that appears quite sensitive where you find a slab above on drifted terrain (see profile and image).  This weak layer may be the product of new snow accumulating on moist/wet snow (melt layer recrystallization), and its distribution across the landscape is a bit uncertain.  Slabs in this area were relatively uncommon and existed in isolated places.  Most easterly slopes had 6 inches of soft snow, which posed little or no avalanche hazard.