Flanders Mountain

I skied up Flanders today, and found conditions that are quite similar to my last visit a few days ago. A pit on an east aspect at 9100’ had HS 105 and gave ECTP15 just below a mid-pack crust that sits on ~25 cm of 4F angular facets. I did not experience any collapsing or cracking, and observed no recent activity. Despite the lack of obvious activity, the thought of skiing exposed terrain seems unpalatable to me.

This pit was 100-150’ below the one I dug on 12/28, and I did not find the well-defined pair of crusts that was present in that pit. I suspect being near some trees affected my results a few days ago. Nevertheless, the stability was poor in both pits, and the problem is the same—sugary, loose facets that cannot support much weight.