Deep Snow and Old Weak Layer on Hidden Peak

We toured on Hidden Peak today to monitor the new snow conditions.  Up to 4+ feet of storm snow has fallen in this area over the past 3 days.  This has greatly improved the snow coverage, but many obstacles continue to exist at the lower elevations below 7200'.  There was evidence of previous wind slab and storm slab avalanches that most likely occurred sometime yesterday.  We did not see any evidence of storm slab instabilities continuing into today.  We did see some small wind slab cracking and propagation along the upper wind loaded ridge of the peak.  We spent some time looking at the deep slab avalanche problem.  We dug a pit in wind protected below treeline terrain at 8500' on a NE aspect.  Consistent snowpack test results indicated that propagation is still possible if this weak layer can be initiated.  See attached snowpit and video for more detailed information.  Breakable crusts began forming on eastern aspects by early afternoon.