Incline Peak Obs

I toured the Incline Peak area this morning to have a look at the Dec 1 facets and observe surface conditions ahead of the next low pressure system. During my approach I stepped out of the established skin track and broke trail to get a feel for the underlying snowpack. On a small test slope in northerly below treeline terrain I triggered a sharp whumphing collapse. An adjacent hand pit resulted in a Q3 shear with moderate force between the new snow and the older faceted grains. Higher up I dug a more formal snow pit just below the ridge in near treeline terrain around 9250 feet. HS at my location was 76cm with 40cm of settled new snow from the event on Thursday. I conducted two extended column tests with multiple ECTN results in both the new snow as well as the Dec 1 interface but surprisingly no propagation. I found fun turns in lower angle terrain on the descent but the tide is still a bit low. Light intermittent snow showers in the morning increased to steady moderate upon exiting around 11:45. While all precipitation was snow in the elevations I traveled today the falling snow was moist and resulted in unexpected glopping on the short skin back to the car.