The Gash

We found sensitive slabs on a recent new/old interface (formed during clearing on Wednesday, 3/19).  We dug into the snow on a N, upper-elevation aspect to explore if crusts/facets were present from 3/13 were reactive as well. The height of snow at 9,900 feet was over 275 cm (9 feet).  A snow pit dug in the top 130 cm revealed a weak interface around 1.5 deep that propagated in two tests (ECTP 12 & ECTP13).  We chose to avoid any wind-loaded, steeper slopes and stuck to lower-angled terrain on a protected N-aspect. The 3/13 facet layer did not produce results (now around 70cm deep), but it is likely in certain areas, this problem is lingering. I suspect the crust formed during this time to be sensitive once things start heating up in full sun. 

Cracking and easy-to-trigger wind slabs observed on lee aspects on an interface of lighter-density snow around 1.5 feet deep.