Whitebark Ridge

We did not venture into the Alpine, but did notice significant flagging of loose snow along ridgelines, loading East aspects.  

The storm snow has been settling into a more cohesive slab, and our ski pen was quite less than it was yesterday (10-15 cms).  We observed significant settlement cones around trees (see photo).  We observed 3-4 mm surface hoar on most aspects near treeline elevations that likely formed in the early morning hours of Sunday above the fog/clag layer.   It was getting blasted and mostly destroyed by the sun on solar aspects.   After getting a large collapse in a meadow, (Northeast 7600') we decided to conduct an Extended Column Test and the propagating result on the 15th loading step failed on a layer of well-developed facets 5 cms below the Old/New Interface.  I believe the collapse we felt failed the weak facets AT the interface.  We then conducted an ECT on a Southeast Aspect at 7800' that held 65 cm of snow and it propagated on the 2nd loading step (!!) at the New/Old Interface.   I did not expect this, thinking that there would not be as much of a weak layer near the ground on solar aspects.   I will now forecast for the distribution of the persistent slab problem on all aspects Near and Above Treeline.   Check out the video below for a more in-depth look.