Base of Powderhouse

We were skiing the base of Powderhouse during an AIARE 2 class, below treeline, and on a NW slope at 8000 ft, and observed 90cm snowpack, with 20cm of new snow with facets at the bottom of the snowpack.

Conditions were overcast conditions, light snow (S1), light variable winds, on a 15-17 degree slope with 26-degree ambient temperature.

Test Results:

We dug multiple pits to the ground, and ran a series of tests, including two extended column without propagation (results: ECTN @ 40cm).  We also ran multiple compression tests, showing collapse in the new snow layer and one full planar failure at 65cm from the top in a persistent weak layer with large faceted crystals.