Spooky layer on Mount Taylor

<p>Were in and around the Corbin Road today at several locations and elevations. Travel conditions were good/firm in the morning, but snow became isothermal below 1800 m by noon. Only pinwheeling and small wet slides were observed today. However, the snow felt spooky near the summit ridge of Mount Taylor (but far enough east to be outside the ridge-top wind affect). Three pits all revealed a dense, cohesive slab failing in easy to moderate sudden planar shears on an old, dense 3 cm thick crust down 60 - 70 cm (CT13/SP/240HST). Lots of snow up there and it wasn't very wet at 3 pm. Viz dropped and wet snow started by 4 pm. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes, Dense trees, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Steep slopes, Convex slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Snow Conditions

Heavy, Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Warm.