AST-1 Powell River

AST-1 course on Sentinel ridge. 40 cm of new snow fell at the Vic Col lodge Friday. Two natural size 2 avalanches on N facing terrain under the Moose Knuckle were observed on Saturday, and size 2 off of the Big Knuckle, similar aspect. Signs of the Feb 22 persistent slab were evident, down 25-70cm depending on wind loading and were producing clean shears in hand and snow pit tests; however on ski cuts in steep low consequence terrain, we could only get the top 10cm of soft windslab to move. We had a few collapses under our feet as we moved through terrain (no whumphing or shooting cracks), but knowing the weak layers were there and uncertainty of triggering them, was enough for us to keep to mellow, well supported slopes. Top 25cm have a strong temperature gradient, the rest below was weak. Two out of three snow pits were producing sudden pops on CT 24 down 70 and 90 cm on old SH layer. As well as CT 4 in storm snow and CT 13 on Feb 22 layer down 25cm. Could not reproduce results with ECT, which correlated with our ski cut results. New 5mm SH was observed on all aspects. Was snowing lightly end of day.