Max High

The most notable observation was the significant surface hoar development with grains up to 2 cms in length.  Surface Hoar was the largest between 2000-3000'.  In this area the surface snow was extremely weak with significant dry loose sluffing running through the surface snow and entraining other snow on slopes steeper than 32°.  

The 12/10 and 12/5 rain crust sandwich was acting as a persistent weak layer above 2000'.  The upper crust was weak enough that it was failing at the facets in between the two crusts with the snow above acting as a slab.  Thick brush limited the hazard of this problem in this area.

At 4300'/ south aspect pit results produced ECTN 14+17 (2 tests) down 35 cms on the 12/22 BSH layer.  The BSH was deformed and was mixed with other grain types, which is consistent with observations from other areas/ aspects and elevations over the last week.  Overall snowpack structure was much weaker here than what has been found in the Intermountain zone.  Failure at the ground was observed in ECT test 2 times, ECTP23 and 27 down 100cms.  Height of snow was 100cms.  Basal facets consist of average 2mm grains that were former meltforms that are now faceting.

Flagging was observed on nearby peaks and Thompson Pass, however there was no wind effect in this area.