Hunting for buried surface hoar at Spooner/Kingsbury

After finding buried surface hoar at Ebbetts Pass yesterday, I went looking for it at Spooner, where I saw it on the surface on March 4th. Although it was possible to find, and produced consistent SP results on compression tests, there was very little slab above it and I saw no signs of instabilities beyond the SP results.

Pic 1: Mix of buried SH and NSFs down 30cm on an E aspect at 8600ft (pin drop). Fist hard snow above it, and not slab-like. Several wind loaded start zones in this area, but they feed into huge avalanche paths so I didn't expose myself to them today to look for more slab-like conditions above the SH. From a safe distance, no avalanche activity observed in these paths.

Pic 2: Close-up of layer described above. SH was mostly collapsed but standing intact in places. NSF was more consistent, but very small grains and a subtle layer. 

Pic 3: Close-up of SH after removing from failed column, at a different location about 1 mile away from above pics. SP results but no further signs of instability.

Pic 4: Heavily rimed surface all along the Spooner/Kingsbury ridge. Cool and cloudy morning with light E winds. Clouds began to break upon our departure around 3pm.