We found 15 - 30+ cm of new snow today, with more in the drifted areas. SE windloading was strong in all exposed areas, including open forest. The lower layers of snow were a bit moist below 450 m, but the snow was quite dry above.

The windloaded areas had very tender fresh soft windslabs. Shooting cracks and hollow sounds were common enough to keep us entirely off any steep windloaded slopes. There were no natural releases yet, but the instability was obvious.

On a moderately windloaded test slope, our test block sets yielded easy #2 - 3 (either just stepping onto the block, or at an ankle flex) shears at Q2 (average quality) on 38 - 40° for all but one Rutschblock, and for the standard size AK Block as well. We experimented with a set of oversized AK Blocks. All of those and one Rutschblock went at a much different #6 (multiple hard jumps) and Q2, except the largest blocks, which were Q3 (irregular shear).

The weak layer was the rime and sun crust from Feb 17 - 21 and the 3mm surface hoar on top of it. This weak layer will persist and the load on it is increasing. Backcountry travelers should avoid any windloaded slopes over 35°.

The results we got today illustrate one limitation of large block tests. When the surface layers are soft and the weak layer is near the surface, the weak layer often goes as the tester steps onto it. If it doesn't though, their skis penetrate below it on the first jump and then it takes many hard jumps to shock the block enough for the weak layer, which is now above the skis, to release.

The block either goes at #2 or 3, or it goes at #6. The usual gradation of scores in between is absent. The #2 or 3 is the value that represents the slope stability, not the #6.

In windsheltered areas, we found good powder that was quite deep in spots where the sun crust below the new snow was absent. These areas did not release in slope tests up to 40 - 45°, but the surface hoar and some near surface facets are present there and may not bear much more new snow load.