Quiet Place

Out for another day of cruising:

• Valley rain until 0700 hrs
• 3" new snow above yesterday's melt-freeze crust at mid and upper elevations (14" above the 4/8 crust)
• Winds ranged from calm in our work site to extreme from SW at ridge tops, likewise for blowing snow.
• Wind-drifted snow was not yet cohesive or reactive
• Surface snow became moist and cohesive during short periods of sun
• Multpile hand pits at mid and upper elevations on shaded aspects identified several alternating layers facets and crust above the 4/8 melt-freeze crust.
• We observed no obvious signs of instability 
• A test pit at 6500' on a NE aspect yeilded stable results in small and large column test
• Despite a lack of feedback from the facet layers, we remained sceptical of the snowpack structure and planned our work and routes to avoid exposure to over 30 degrees.