Weak Buried Snow on Rose Knob

We toured in the Rose Knob area today to look at wind slabs and the Jan 4 rain crust.  The Jan 4 rain crust and surrounding weak faceted snow was very consistent throughout this area on N-NE-E aspects in near and below treeline areas.  This crust is buried 4-6'' deep below recent storm snow.  The weak layer does not seem strong enough to support a large load of new snow, like the storm we have coming on Thursday.  Any avalanches associated with this weak layer could break deep and have wide propagation. 

Wind slabs in this area were non reactive from ski cuts and cornice drops on small test slopes.  Snowpack tests also supported that these wind slabs have gained strength.