Burstall Pass

Good early season conditions at Burstall Pass today. Dug a pit in the meadow below the pass 2300m. HS 86cm, nicely consolidated, no layers evident, flat aspect, -9º air temp. Dug another pit on east aspect just below Burstall Pass, 2404m. 25º gradient, HS 65cm -9º air temp. CTM 17 at 20cm from surface. Resistant planar. Couldn't identify reason for fracture. No crust to speak of, just a 2cm layer of higher density snow. I did observe some small surface hoar in the trees just below the pass, (see photo) so perhaps the sliding layer was old surface hoar? Snowpack is well consolidated and supportive, not too deep though so you have to be on the lookout for rocks. Trail in is nicely packed by skis and snowshoes up to the meadows, then ski packed the rest of the way. The headwall is in good shape, both up and down.