Observations from Ebbetts Pass

Pic 1: We found 2mm Fist+ facets under 1F settled recent snow on this NW aspect near the pin drop. This structure was found on several NW, N, NE aspects between 8200-8800ft, which was the elevation range that we traveled off trail today. If the storm snow was much shallower than pictured here, there seemed to be stronger crusts and less developed facets. My guess is that the same terrain characteristics that allowed more recent storm snow to accumulate, also promoted the existence of loose snow at the surface to undergo the faceting process prior to the storm.

Pic 2: A deep tap on the facets showed Sudden Planar results. Later in the day, we learned that sled skiers/boarders had triggered a D2 on the facets on a N aspect above Kinney Reservoir. Although the crown was deep, it only propagated 30ft wide, likely due to terrain constrictions that prevented the facet layer from existing beyond the 30ft. This info comes from a reliable source, but I don't know anything further about the avalanche. 

Pics 3 and 4: Large surface hoar growing on the Noble ridgetop in the morning, but dark clouds arrived in the afternoon and may prevent the SH from growing more. We left around 3pm and the cloud cover was increasing.

No signs of storm or wind instabilities observed today.