The VERY persistent weak layer!

<p>We were NE of Sparwood today near the divide. There were strong westerly winds in the alpine, and the snowpack depths are variable. We found the early December crust anywhere from visible on the surface to down 150 cm. The sugary crystals that have formed over the December crust are most reactive in thin snowpack areas and there is still concern that avalanches triggered in shallow zones may propagate into deeper terrain. This may be especially true if we get a big warm-up that is forecasted this weekend. We dug two profiles today with the focus on the early December weak layer. The first one was on a northwest-facing slope in an open wind-affected area where the weak layer was down 95 cm. We did a number of tests with only one of them producing a result. ECTX, CTN, DTH (BRK) down 95 on size 1- 2 facets. The one result we got was somewhat inconclusive. It was a propagation saw test with a result of PST 51/100 END down 95 on size 1 - 2 facets. The southeast aspect results were different with a sudden result on an extended column test ECTP 23 down 65 on size 2 facets.</p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes.

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Wind affected.

Weather Conditions

Windy.