Sussing out the snowpack in Kootenay pass

Dug a pit at treeline, E/NE on cornice ridge. Column Test failed on crust aprox 65 cm down. Failure occured after 12th hit from the shoulder indicating the weak layer is beginning to bond with the surrounding snow. Second failure just 10 cm below on another crust. Snow appears consolidated below the second crust. Rode east aspect off cornice-buzz col. Skiing was surprisingly enjoyable with several CM of soft snow on firm supportive snow. South aspect back to the car had a breakable crust.