Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

Evaluated snow profile on a due North Facing 40* Shaded aspect < TL @ 10,500' to get a better grasp on the 1/19 surface hoar layer. Easily distinguishable layer was down 55cm from the surface (see photo). Flattened but intact surface hoar crystals were evident. CT16/ECT23 sudden planar Q1 shears on this layer. Definite no-go where terrain and exposure cannot be easily and safely mitigated and terrain traps avoided. Below SH layer, cohesive slab observed for ~85cm below with 3 layers that would shovel shear but no failures on additional CT's. Total HS ~200cm but did not dig to ground.