You will find hard layers of wind-drifted snow on steep, leeward slopes. The layered structure is there: hard slabs overlying weak snow near the ground. Monday’s snow was blasted by winds into yet another layer of stiff, brittle snow. The thickness and density of the slabs varies greatly over short distances. The most problematic areas hold the most snow and are around the transition areas near treeline. This is where winds were strong enough to harden the snow, and also sheltered enough to hold deeper snow in terrain features. Above treeline is well-scoured right now, especially on anything west-facing. Observers still report the occasional avalanche and signs of poor structure like shooting cracks. We’re stuck with a snowpack structure that is stubbornly, and very slowly, changing.