Palisades

Snow depths on this ride varied from 130cm at 7200' to 165cm above 8500'.  Found a sheltered location for a pit near Palisades Peak that held old snow from Nov/Dec at the base of the snowpack. I found about 30cm of basal facets everywhere I probed in shady locations on the ride. At the pit location this facet layer was 4F  in hardness and dry but well rounded and small (2-3mm). This layer is gaining strength though still wants to carry a crack. At the locations that I probed a stout, hard slab (1F-P) laid over the basal facets. 

I turned down the option to ride steep rocky terrain due to this weak layer. Before I step out into bigger, steeper north facing terrain, I want another meter of snow over the weak layer or for the weak layer to continue to round and sinter further. We are trending that direction, but not there yet. 

Sunny slopes were wet in the upper 5cm or so by 2:30pm. Lots of surface hoar survived in the shade.