Faceting on Tamarack Peak - Far E Ridge

Once venturing off the beaten path in this area, it is easy to find unconsolidated surface snow and weak faceted layers near the snow surface. The more challenging part is to find a problematic slab over a faceted weak layer. On N to NE aspect terrain in this area, the transitional zone from NE wind protection to NE wind exposure is very small. As a result it was easy to find either weak facet layers with no significant overlying slab below treeline or wind scoured areas with hard slab but no faceted weak layer at treeline. Finding the mix of significant slab over faceted weak layer proved elusive in this particular area. No signs of current instability were observed, but numerous areas of weak near surface facets were noted.