Potential developing weak layer.

It was a warm day at elevation today on the Far East Ridge of Tamarack Peak. Any area of snow in the sun had snow surface melt, including on moderately steep northerly aspects. In areas of full shade, a different snowpack story is unfolding with near surface facet formation, capable of producing sudden collapse. This will be a layer to watch with a concern towards a potential significant new snow loading event.

The first pit I dug was targeting heavily shaded, wind protected N aspect terrain in the 8,500' to 9,000' elevation band. What I saw was a bit similar to the near surface facets I saw two days prior on Relay Pk on a NNE aspect at 9,600'. Moving higher up on the Far East Ridge to the edge of historic avalanche paths, a quick handpit identified the same upper snowpack facet layer and a quick CT produced a similar SC (sudden collapse) result.

Exiting the area involved working through an overall shallow snowpack with snow surface conditions a mix of marginally supportable wet snow or supportable to breakable crust depending on sun exposure.