A Weakening Snowpack in Glacier

We took our skis for a walk in the Lake McDonald area to monitor the early season snowpack as it continues to develop. 

• We found good skiing on sheltered aspects above 6500 feet where snow depths ranged from 24 to 48 inches. Careful skiing is required below 6500 where the snow was about a foot deep. We made extra cautious kick turns and wedged on the shallow snowpack below 6000 feet. We walked below 5000.
• Above 5000 feet, the snowpack is developing a weak structure on all aspects. We found faceting snow atop crusts near the ground starting at middle elevations. Our snow pit at 7300 feet did not have any concerning test results because there wasn't a slab sitting on the weak layers in that sheltered location. 
• On open, northeasterly terrain above treeline, recent westerly winds had deposited soft slabs that still cracked around us on small test slopes. The biggest drawback of venturing into big, consequential, alpine terrain today would have been triggering a larger wind slab resting on top of near surface facets.
• We opted to skip riding a high bowl because of the potential wind slabs near the top, and the certain hazards associated with thin coverage as we descended. 
• Looking ahead, with extended high pressure in the forecast, I expect that warm temperatures up high could create loose wet avalanche hazards as the low density surface snow melts. On northerly aspects that stay shady and cold, I bet the snowpack continues to weaken.