Whumpfing and propagating ECT at Blue Lakes

Warm, sunny and calm day around Blue Lakes. We took the typical route to Polaris Bowl from Blue Lakes Rd near Charity Valley, and left the trail occasionally to sample untracked snow. Still lots of land mines in this area, so we saved any real play riding for later. I did hear one whumpf on a wind sheltered slope, even while lightly on the throttle. No signs of recent avalanche activity around Polaris Bowl, with no tracks on the steep slopes on our way out, but a few bold tracks were seen on our way back. Above Lost Lakes, snow away from the trees was very wind affected and not very inviting, but riding in the trees was excellent. I got off my sled occasionally, and my feet consistently punched through to the Dec 11th facets. Near Upper Blue Lakes, on an open slope sheltered by trees, an ECT propagated on a hard tap. We avoided consequential terrain today, and found good riding, though the snow was still too shallow to get really rowdy.

Picture: Near Lost Lakes, somebody had already done a great job of using this as a test slope. I dug two mitt pits on this same slope, and did find the Dec 11th facets, though they were not as pronounced as on more sheltered slopes. The slab above the facets here was very strong and difficult to dig through by hand. 

Video: Another propagating ECT on the Dec 11th facets. A snowpack structure similar to this was seen on all the terrain we traveled today that had sufficient coverage - except for the few above treeline slopes at Lost Lakes (picture).