On a NW aspect in the Cabinet Mountains yesterday we found about two feet of loose, unconsolidated new snow over one foot of denser new snow from the past week. A couple weak interfaces popped out in our compression tests but the asscociated slabs did not have the cohesion to create a slab.  The snow is too fluffy right now.  What a problem to have... Where you might find this layer more sensitive is where the surface layer is wind effected.  Read on...

With much effort, we made it to the ridge. We passed through some wind effected snow and it released in a slab. On top, we saw some good cornice formation but even the cornices are to loose to get them to fail as a large chunk. Windslabs do exist and they could be on multiple aspects and they will be more sensitive than the surrounding snow. Watch for isolated pockets of denser windslabs especially on exposed slopes. They seem to be limited to the upper elevations right now.

Eric and I did not dig down 7 feet to the buried persitent weak layer of surface hoar. We are assuming it is still intact and identifiable. We'll try to pinpoint this layer next week. What you should know and how you should conduct yourself knowing there may be a nasty weak layer buried 7 feet deep in the pack is that it will take a whole lot of stress to get this layer to fail, but when it does, it goes big and you had better not be on it. Places where you might screw up with regard to this layer are bigger terrain features like large convex slopes with no toe support, complex terrain with alot of snow depth variation, and high elevation planar slopes with little anchoring. We're starting to build up a good base and all this wieght from new snow will start to compress the buried weak layer. With patience and more snow, it should go away. Be patient. Those big slopes will still be there.