On Tuesday February 21st we traveled to Shaw Mountain via the Libby Creek drainage.  Snow conditions varied drastically with elevation, the one consistency was a very firm, thick rain crust that developed during last Thursdays rain event(10-12" thick).  This rain crust can be found at all elevations.  As we ascended from the valley floor at 4,000' the snow became progressively deeper, at 6,000' we began to notice thin surface layers breaking loose under our skis.  The higher we climbed the deeper these new storm slabs became, we ended our ascent at 6,800' at the ridgeline where the slabs on south aspects were 8" thick and well over a foot thick on leeward north and east aspects.  We experienced on audible and concerning collapse in the snowpack just below ridgeline.

Stability tests showed reactive layers in the new storm snow at 12"  and 15" below the surface.  These failures in the snow were the result of density changes and some thin weak layers  that developed between snow cycles.  The takehome message: High potential for triggering a storm slab 12-15" thick above 6,000' in elevation.  North and Easterly aspects are likely to be more sensitve and hazardous due to some light wind loading as well.  As precipitation diminishes and temperatures cool off these slabs will have the opportunity to settle and strengthen, I will be going out again on Thursday and will monitor the strength of this storm snow.

Other notable avalanche observations yesterday were the evidence of slides that appeared to have released during the rain event on the 16th.  There was one deep crown line observed on Twin Peak on a north aspect in steep rocky terrain and evidence of multiple loose wet slides that occured during the rain event.