Thanksgiving crust lingering in Marion Lake area, Flathead Range

We took a hike/tour into the Marion Lake area today.  The first mile of the trail had just enough snow to safely ascend on, however, on the way down we walked this part of the trail.  Above 5300' there was plenty of snow to ski on.  

From the lake we ascended the ridge to the North (division between Dickey and Marion).  The brush battle seemed to stop at roughly 6000', with the quality travel conditions above that.  

• We found the Thanksgiving crust approx. 30 cm below the surface at 6700'.  The new snow above that was 4 finger density and proved reactive in an Extended Column Test (ECTP 29).  
• The total snowpack depth on the SE aspect was 100 cm. 
• The Halloween crust was still there, but had a 60 cm pencil hard layer ontop of it.
• The basal structure was moist .
• On the N aspect at 7200' we found a slightly stiffer wind slab sitting ontop of the Thanksgiving crust, however it was unreactive in our test.

While the crust is prevalent and is providing a bed surface, we also noticed it is helping to lay the brush down and predictably is at all elevations and aspects that we traveled on.