Our observations were some shooting cracks, one minor whoompf, and some light SE windloading.

Slope and traveling tests on uncut slopes had no results except minor shooting cracks on test slopes up to 50°, but parallel tracks tests, where the first traveler cut low on the slope and the second cut above, produced mini-slabs. Slab tests on the slightly windloaded surface layer yielded high-energy #2 results, meaning that most of the undermined area broke away quite cleanly. Hand shear tests showed the same shallow buried surface hoar layer that we have been watching all week, though it was stronger today.

In our large block tests, we had fairly weak #3 results (first gentle jump) at average shear quality on the three blocks loaded by our 85Kg tester (RB3Q2, CAK3Q2, AK3Q2) on our 42° test slope, and a #4 (second, harder jump) on the one loaded by our 70Kg tester (AK3Q2). All except the Rutschblock fractured on the soft layer of buried near-surface facets at 50 cm. The Rutschblock fractured on very loose and soft faceted melt-freeze right above the ground, a layer that was not uniformly distributed across the slope since only isolated patches survived the November thaws at this elevation.

Since skis usually sink through soft surface layers of large blocks without shearing them, we checked the surface layers with a quick tap compression test. The buried surface hoar and a density and hardness change at 70 and 82 cm both fractured, the upper one at 7 taps (from the wrist) and the lower at 11 taps (from the elbow). Both were average Q2 shear quality.

We rated the strength -. the stress ~, the energy -, and the structure -, where + indicates a stronger snowpack, - weaker, and ~ neutral.

With such weakness, the snowpack is set up for an avalanche cycle if there is more rapid or heavy snowfall or windloading. It seems that the loading rate so far has been slow enough that the snowpack is accomodating the new load well and has not reached the critical point in most areas. Beware of variability now, though. Windloaded or weaker areas may be sensitive already.

We need more snow before we have large avalanches reaching low elevations, but backcountry travelers should be alert for weaker or more loaded areas and travel with caution, especially if conditions change. Tonight's clearing should help turn the soft surface windslab into less sensitive faceted grains, but that layer will then be weaker when the next snowfall loads over it.