Snow pit from above the grills

As we rode above 7500' there was just under a foot of new snow. You could feel your track spin a little and slide out on the new/old snow interface, mainly when doing doughnuts at faster speeds, But you could also dig through down to the dec 11 facets. When you step off your machine your boot would compact the new snow and previous storm snow, then fall through the facet layer. 

we dug a pit on a NW aspect at 8,000'. There was 115cm total.  A melt freeze crust was under the new snow 27cm down,  another thinner melt freeze crust was just above the December 11 facets 58cm down. 

our compression test was positive, with the failure just under the new snow.  CTE SC down 27

our extended column test was negative on this layer.

however our extended column test was positive on the dec 11 facets.

ECTP23down59

both layers had positive test results careful decision making is an important part of the day right now.

so we kept to sub 30 degree terrain and the riding was fun, lots of pow turns and the only obstacles were the big lumps in the snow. You can have a great time and coverage is pretty good.

no other signs of instability