Observation: Butler Basin

Went to Butler to ski the Steep S facing at mid elevation that doesn't have a PWL problem at the moment. The new couple inches was fairly light density blower, then a thin rime crust with more powder underneath. As soon as we got high enough to get into wind affected terrain the cracking started, widespread cracking both hiking up and skiing down but the weak layer was the rime crust from Sunday and Yesterday and only a few inches deep. I wouldn't have wanted to be on a wind loaded slope knowing there was a active weak layer underlying it. But in the terrain we covered it was only a few inches deep. It would be a good idea to keep this rime crust layer in mind when more snow is added on top. Photo is cracking and the video is wind transported snow from the NE winds.

Cold powder in all areas, the time crust became more noticeable above 9000ft but didn't effect the skiing much.