Facet layer to monitor on Incline Lake Peak.

Old near surface facets buried underneath the Feb 19 and 22 storm snow could become a problematic weak layer with future new snow loading. Overlying recent storm snow that was low density and not a cohesive slab over the past two days has undergone sufficient settlement to start to show some slab characteristics. Snowpit test results of PST 17/100 end and PST 20/100 end along the top of the facet layer indicate a need for continued monitoring. Repeatable ECTN results, an absence of informal signs of instability, and a lack of avalanche activity suggest that this buried facet layer is not a current stability issue.

Areas of blowing snow were prevalent along ridgetops and were observed occasionally below treeline during the strongest wind gusts. New cornices were forming and were easy to collapse intentionally. Dropping small cornice pieces onto the slopes below produced no results. One of several ski cuts on wind loaded test slopes along the summit ridge revealed a wind slab fracture. This slab was 4 to 5 inches thick and did not extend down slope more than 10 feet. In general, newly formed wind slabs in this area had a triggering sensitivity ranging from stubborn to unreactive while tested during the morning hours.