On Sunday February 29 Bob Howell skied the Libby Creek Loop.  I met two 
other people along the trail, although, from the tracks it was clear 
several others had covered the loop earlier in the day, after last night's 
snow.

Conditions were mostly overcast, with the wind initially almost calm, but 
strong by mid afternoon.  The trail was in good shape with approximately 4 
inches of new snow overnight.  The snow stake near the start of the trail 
showed 39 inches.  A few rocks were close to the surface on the part of the 
trail which descends to Libby Creek after the hairpin turn.

I dug a snow pit at 13T 397980  4576751 (NAD 27) at an elevation about 9640 
ft, slightly uphill from the lower part of the trail, below the open slopes 
and cliffs on the north side of Libby Creek.  It was on a 22 deg. slope 
facing 142 degrees (SE).

The snow depth was 120 cm and the air temperature was -5C (23F).
 layer height Temp.  Hardness                    Crystal structure
   #   cm     C
------ 120-----------------------------------------------------------------
   9   110   -3.0    fist        fresh          1.0 mm  A few dendrites, but
                                 powder                 mostly cemented clusters
                                                        of 0.1 mm crystals or
                                                        spheres (rime?)
 ----- 103-----------------------------------------------------------------
   8   100   -3.0    pencil      ice crust      3.0 mm  welded ice crystals
 -----  98-----------------------------------------------------------------
   7                 4 fingers   hoar?          1.0 mm  slightly rounded
                                                        more faceted than #6
 -----  94-----------------------------------------------------------------
   6    90   -3.0    2 fingers                  1.0 mm  rounded grains,
                                                        slightly faceted
 -----  81-----------------------------------------------------------------
   5    80   -2.5    2 fingers   icy            2.5 mm  welded ice crystals
 -----  76-----------------------------------------------------------------
   4                 4 fingers                  1.5 mm  faceted, with edges
                                                        slightly rounded
 -----  73-----------------------------------------------------------------
        70   -2.0                               1.5 mm  faceted, with edges
   3    60   -2.0    2 fingers                          slightly rounded
 -----  51-----------------------------------------------------------------
   2    50   -1.5    3 fingers    softer hoar?  1.5 mm  faceted
 -----  47-----------------------------------------------------------------
        40   -1.5
        30   -1.0                 depth hoar    3.0 mm  faceted
   1    20   -1.0    1 finger     but consolidated
        10    0.0
------   0   -0.5 ---------------------------------------------------------

Shovel stability test:  It required very light force to cause the top layer 
of powder to slide on the icy surface of layer #8.  Once that ice layer was 
cut through it required moderately light force to produce a shear at the 
top of the next major ice layer (#5) at 81 cm.  Finally, it required 
moderate force to produce shear at the top of layer #1 at 47 cm.

Summary:  Several ice crust layers have developed because of periods of 
little snow, especially #8 at 98-103 cm. and they represent potential 
sliding surfaces.  Some type of soft hoar has also developed below the ice 
layers.  Right now the unconsolidated powder on top of the upper most ice 
layer (#8) is relatively shallow, but with continued accumulation and 
drifting that could change.

The car counts were as follows.  The Corner Mountain and Little Laramie Lot 
counts are for 8:45 AM.  The others are from 10:00 AM, as I spent some time 
with the First Aid class at the Ski Area before the above patrol.
                            with    without
                          trailers  trailers
 Corner Mountain Lot         0         0
 Little Laramie Lot          0         0
 Below Cattleguard          25         1
 Cattleguard to Turnaround  27         0
 Green Rock Picnic Gnd. Lot  0         4
 P. G. to Snowy Range Lodge 18         8

 Total                      70        13