A Return to Colorado

Partly cloudy late morning, with calm winds and cold temps. Increasing clouds through the afternoon, with one brief snow flurry. Winds barely made it to light breeze. Snowpack below about 6,000 feet highly variable in depth and structure. Most commonly recent snow over crust/ facet combos, especially on slopes exposed to the sun. No collapse, a few localized cracks. Found a few drifts where stiff slab exists, but otherwise, would be difficult to fond and trigger slab large enough to bury or injure someone except in very isolated terrain traps. Above about 6,000 feet, layered snowpack present in shaded gullies and on lee sides of ridges. HS 85 cm on 25*, SE-facing slope at 6,650 feet. Multiple generations of 1-F to Pencil-hard wind slabs over thin layer of basal facets. Reactive in tests - ECTP 26, ECTPV (failed when cord cut corner of basal FC), CTM 13 SC. Facets 1-2 mm, some striations, moist. Many upper elevation westerly slopes scoured, though rime makes them look white.