Surface hoar layer buried about 40 cm down (a little over a foot) looks and acts terribly in stability tests. No major collapsing observed. While I was digging, I watched 2 younger skiers center punch one of the starting zones where there was an accident about 5 years ago, together, with no rescue gear. Some slopes appear to be "stable", but I'm pretty sure there are still slopes you can trigger - especially where the new snow is wind-affected.
Snowing S1, winds were light to moderate and moving a tiny bit of snow. Plenty of snow available for transport.
Depth=55-70 cm on NW-N slopes near the top of Baldy. 12/7 SH layer was widespread in the meadows above the upper starting zones. I didn't poke around in the paths, but the 12/7 SH transitions from widespread in the open terrain up high to sporadic (as expected) as you worked into the thin trees lower in elevation.
Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persistent Slab |
|
Layer Depth/Date: 12/7 Comments: I called the 12/7 SH distribution "specific" because it becomes sporadic in the trees below the upper starting zones. Guessing on sensitivity: somewhere in the reactive to stubborn range. |
Isolated drifting where I was, but I'd guess there are some true wind slabs up another 1000' in elevation.
I stayed out of avalanche terrain.