The overnight snow level was about 550m and there is not enough base to ski even with caution below 650m, but there are some smooth slopes higher up if you know where the rocky spots are and carefully avoid them.

As a moist riming mist fell out of the fog today, the night's light 110 kg/m3 powder was being moistened and coated by rime. It was quite sensitive in slope and traveling tests, cracking and sliding between and around our skis. This was the only sign of instability and slope test result though, and the surface layer was so thin it did not present a problem.

In our snowpit tests we did an AK Block, a Cutback AK Block, and a Rutschblock. None fractured at all even with multiple hard jumps (AK7, CAK7, RB7). Sensitive but soft surface layers like this often fail to fracture in large block tests because the skis or snowboard sink right through them without applying enough shear force. We rated the strength ~, stress +, energy -, and structure - (4 of 5 lemons, indicators of weak structure), where + designates stronger snowpack, - weaker, and ~ neutral.

Given the extremely thin slab layer, the moderate strength, high energy, and weak structure are not a concern until there is further load. Or if the partial clearing we saw this evening creates enough cooling, it could make weak sugary faceted grains in the surface layer that could be very sensitive when loaded by a bigger snowfall.

Despite the weakness, our block tests had no fractures. This is a common result with soft but sensitive surface layers, because the skis sink below the surface layers without shearing them. Small block tests yield more reliable results in these conditions. In any case, today's new snow at 5 cm thickness did not present a danger.