Progressive faceting on Lincoln Ridge

I toured Lincoln Ridge in the Yuba Pass area this morning to monitor the progression of faceting in the snowpack. Since my last visit to this area 8 days ago, faceting has advanced in the snowpack. In my pit I noted faceting at all heights within the snowpack, most notably in the upper half. Stepping onto the snowpack with just my boot, I only sank about halfway into the snowpack. Over the past few days making observations in other areas, I have been sinking to within a few inches of the ground due to the overall weakness of the snowpack.

Surface hoar ranging in size from 2 to 20 mm was noted in wind protected open areas below treeline. I was impressed with some of the 10 to 20 mm surface hoar that had formed in some relatively small open areas below treeline. Whether the surface hoar is going to persist to burial or is destroyed prior to the next storm in unknown, but the large size was impressive.