Skiing in the Apgars

Out for a tour in the Apgars today. 10 - 20cm of new snow overnight with a whole bunch of the lovely white stuff piled up from the past week made for slow going in and out. No recent avalanches noted, no cracking or collapsing either. Temps started near freezing with light snowfall (S-1) and dropped throughout the day along with an increase in snowfall (up to S3 around 3pm). Calm winds and overcast skies kept the surface snow soft and fluffy throughout the day.

Dug a quick pit at 5600' on a 30 degree East slope:

• Total depth of 245cm - 20cm of new snow with a subtle 4F- hard wind affected layer ~20cm thick above F hard dendrites, then gradually increasing density to the 2/2 groundhog crust (obvious) and eventually the 1/17 extra-dense layer (with well preserved surface hoar just above!)
• ECTN14@200cm (from bottom) on dendrites
• ECTP27@140cm (from bottom) on 5mm surface hoar above the 1/17 extra-dense layer (picture attached of test and surface hoar)...

Enjoyed quality low-visibility skiing on low angle slopes.