Flattop Mtn (Skyland area)

After a banner day at Marion Lake yesterday, I sought a simple, alder-less tour in straightforward terrain to try and validate the windslab problem that was well advertised in Mark's forecast today. 

•Below freezing temperatures, powder snow, and bouts of sunshine at Marias Pass were a welcome sight after driving from the wet, soggy Middle Fork corridor this morning. 
•Moderate West winds were transporting snow to leeward aspects, especially along ridgeline locations where flagging was present.

•I travelled up leeward terrain and was able to easily identify windloaded areas and steer clear of them. A few test slopes yielded a reactive windslab problem as cracking underfoot was noted. These slabs were thin (~6") in most locations. 
•After topping out on the Flattop ridge, I descended to a loaded terrain feature where I conducted an ECT and had failure with moderate force about 1ft below the surface. I surmised the bed surface and weak layer to be a product of the recent, Arctic intrusion (Nov 29/30) that likely scoured the surface and left behind windboard which is common with these atypical winds from the E.  There was whumpfing occurring at this location. 

•I enjoyed a few turns off Flattop back to the Pike Creek SNOTEL site. The thin, variable snowpack demanded respect as many obstacles (rocks, trees, etc) were well disguised by the recent snow and wind. Overall, there was around 1-2ft of snow in most locations. It remained powdery and light throughout the day. 
•Mark's forecasted wind slab problem was "spot on" in the location I travelled. I'd expect to find thicker, more widespread wind slab problems in the higher terrain of the Flathead Range & Southern GNP. 

Dug one pit on a NE aspect at ~6500' and conducted an ECT on a specific, windloaded slope. 

HS: 80 cm 
ECTP 12 (35cm from surface)