AIARE 1 Johnson Canyon

Taught an AIARE 1 in Johnson Canyon and had some interesting observations and pit results. Early in the morning leaving the TH I observed near-surface facets. Digging into the snow I found wet rounded polycrystals about 30 CM down. We dug a pit on a SE face at 7k. The hand hardness test revealed a weak layer about 30 CM down that consisted of the same wet rounded polycrystals, hardness was 4F and above it was some old storm snow from last week's snow and then several crusts towards the surface that varied in density but were 1F or greater. Our pit tests were CT4 RP on this layer and ECTP 13. The winds shifted at around 10 AM to the NE. You could see wind blowing snow within Johnson Canyon but it was very visible along the crest.