23 Jan 00, 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, Snowy Range.  Skied from Green Rock parking
area to Bear Lake via Sally Creek, then back to Green Rock via upper Libby
Creek trail.  Cold temperatures and a layer of new powder made skiing
conditions excellent.  Dug a snowpit at Bear Lake and recorded the following
data.

Time:     1230 23 Jan 00.
Location: North shore of Bear Lake.
Weather:  Windy, about 20F, with light precipitation.  Pit location 
          was sheltered and sunny.
Aspect:   20 degrees, south-facing

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depth (cm)    Hardness       Grain size   Shovel Shear     Comment
0---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Fist           < 1 mm                        New powder
44--------------------------------------------------------------------------
              1 Finger         1 mm                        Hard, old surface
49-------------------------------------------Easy!-------------------------- 
              Fist             1 mm                        Loose crystals
62--------------------------------------------------------------------------
              2 Finger       < 1 mm                        Consolidated slab
137-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Fist           > 1 mm                        Depth hoar
155========== G R O U N D ==================================================

Interpretation:  In the long run, the new snow deposited during the last
week should help reduce the avalanche risks associated with the depth hoar 
layer that prevailed during December and early January.  But in the short 
run caution is still a good idea, especially on steep slopes.  The layered 
structure of the snowpack at Bear Lake indicates that the favorable 
equitemperature metamorphosis is incomplete at best.  Also, moderate to 
strong winds have loaded lee (eastern) slopes, and where the snowpack is 
shallow it's still possible to hear the "whumpfing" sounds associated 
with instability.  Examine the snowpack before venturing on slopes greater 
than 25 degrees.