Observation: Soapstone

Height of snow in this location was 32" where we dug on a northeast aspect at 9,400'. The snowpack was made up of faceted crystals with 2 stout crusts. One that was 12" from the ground and one that was 18" from the ground. The crusts were supportable and the surface snow was faceted and weak. Photo below of damp rounding facets under the lower crust.

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Photo of depth hoar under a melt-freeze crust at 10,000'

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We found a small point release avalanche. This was not deep enough to bury a rider, but entrained the faceted snow surface on a steep (39°) east facing slope at 9,400'

Snow surface was a mixed bag. Some areas of faceted loose on north-east facing shady slopes and a melt-freeze crust on solars in the am that turned damp by later in the aftenrnoon.  Some areas on the ridges and exposed hilltops were wind crusted.