The 10cm layer of moist new snow at 120cm from yesterday afternoon and last night was much more sensitive, fracturing on approach at a high energy Quality 1 on nearly every test block. It also fractured easily on parallel tracks and switchback tests, but was not quite weak or loaded enough to release on uncut slopes.

We did an extra set of AK Blocks sized to the weights of our two testers for our ongoing AK Block research project, so had a total of ten large blocks today.

We rode with strong precautions, because even a thin layer of high density snow can have serious consequences if an entire bowl of it releases. The snow was softer and smoother riding than the breakable crust we found three days ago.

The instability we found will tend to settle out and diminish quickly in the mild temperatures this week, but there may be tender spots persisting in some areas. Backcountry travelers should take care with routefinding, evaluation of consequences, and strict one at a time travel.

Large slides reaching developed areas are not likely.

Keep an eye out for abrupt thaw, heavy rain, or new snow. Any of these factors will increase the avalanche danger again.

Our block tests three days ago on the immediately adjacent section of the slope sheared on 4 to 5 values, the first gentle or second hard jump, at high energy Quality 1 to 2. Today the same layer sheared mostly on 6 to 7 values, multiple hard jumps or no fracture at all, all at a low energy Quality 3.

One AK Block in the second set today went at 4, the first gentle jump, at a high energy Quality 1. It was a perfect illustration of the spatial variability of snow, fracturing easily due to a patch of slippery faceted grains that had not been blown off the melt-freeze crust as it had on all the other blocks.

The same layer was very active on parallel tracks and switchback tests, fracturing and sliding easily. But it did not have quite enough load to release on any uncut slopes.

It was nonetheless tender enough that we practiced maximum risk reduction travel, choosing our terrain with care, descending one at a time, and clearing the slope entirely before signaling the next person.