Itty Bitty Storm Slabs and Buried Crusts

We went up Peak 6996 in South Glacier Park to monitor storm slab development, test buried weak layers, and look for surface hoar that may have been buried by the snow last night.

• We had very small test slope and ski cut results that were reactive, but limited to open, wind drifted areas on easterly aspects. We saw no signs of recent avalanches. We had no whumpfing or shooting cracks caused by buried weak layers.
• We tested the Groundhog crust and 1/17 interface at mid elevations on westerly and easterly aspects. West aspects had no propagation, but easterly aspects gave us consistent propagating results. All results were in facets under the Groundhog crust.
• Warm day with some sun here and there. Winds picked up out of the west in the afternoon with some light blowing snow and more ski cut results on leeward slopes.
• We couldn't find surface hoar lurking under the 3-6" of new snow from last night.
• We were conservative in our terrain choices and did not travel on large, leeward slopes, or above terrain traps.