We did numerous slope tests up to 60°+ in the ski area and also conducted slab and hand shear tests. (We do not dig snowpits in the ski area because the chunks from digging them become a hazard to riders even if we fill in the holes.)

Slope tests produced varied results, with some slopes not cracking or releasing at all while some lee aspect rolls produced shooting cracks and small slab avalanches. Slab tests results were consistently in the high energy #1 range, meaning that they ripped out cleanly and took more than the undermined area. Hand shears easily fractured on the buried surface hoar layer, but the powdery slab tended to crumble into fluff as it moved.

The ski patrol's observations from yesterday explain the spatial variability. They report that many of the steeper and more heavily loaded slopes were so weak that they had already released naturally. Slopes that released and reloaded had no surface hoar layer under the new snow today, and were strong. Those that had not released still had the weak layer present, and were released easily by ski cutting or explosives. The largest intentionally triggered slab was on Lindh's Chute, still a small R1D1 size.

The signs of instability observed were slab avalanches, recent heavy snow, and shooting cracks. There was virtually no windloading, though slopes that are lee to the prevailing SE storm wind did have slightly more new snow on them. Combined with the results of our slope and traveling tests, we rated the strength as -, the stress as -, the energy as -, and the structure as -, where + is an indicator of a strong snowpack, - indicates a weak snowpack, and ~ is neutral.

Though the snow releases easily, the slabs are still so small and light that they present little danger. But additional heavy snow or windloading will create slabs large enough to make backcountry travel dangerous. The spatial variability introduced by some slopes having released and others not means that tests will be unreliable and misleading.

Even now, caution is in order. Beware of high consequence terrain and keep a sharp eye out for any windloaded areas.

Large avalanches reaching low elevations are unlikely until we get quite a bit more snow. Heavy new snowfall or major wind transport of the deep light surface snow onto lee slopes could change that situation.