South Fk Soldier Ck

You're most likely to get into trouble in areas where a strong slab sits on top of weak snow near the ground. We found this structure in previously wind-affected areas at middle elevation and in many areas at upper elevations. We observed an avalanche that likely failed in the latter half of December, illustrating the ability of this setup to produce large slides. 

We experienced one collapse on a SE aspect at 8,900' that traveled approximately 50'. The snowpack there was ~50 cm deep and comprised of a stack of crusts and facets.

Sunnier Slopes:
Snow cover varied from dirt on steep due S, SW, and W to a generally thin snowpack with one or more melt-freeze crusts and interspersed facets. By 8,400', a steeper S-facing slope held a thin but connected snowpack capable of acting as a bed surface. The snowpack is highly variable over a short distance with large variations due to slope angle or a subtle change in aspect. 

Shadier Slopes:
The limited shadier slopes we observed held thicker snowpacks, commonly with a slab over weak layer structure. We stopped to dig on a NE aspect @ 8,700'. Snowpack tests returned ECTP30, ECTN27, and CPST 37/100 (END) on 11/30 down 55-60 cm. Another CPST at a distinct weak layer just above 11/30  returned CPST 55/100 END. 

Surfaces:
We have a little of everything out there. Slippery, icy, wind polish. Some crusts on steeper sunnier slopes, and lots of near-surface facets. The stiffer, wind-affected slopes in the alpine have also faceted, softening the upper 5 cm or so. We found surface hoar of various sizes (max ~1 cm) from the valley floor to 10,000'.