Risky business in the Bridgers

Went out to have a look in the northern Bridgers today, hopeful that the moderate rating for the Bridgers today would lead to some fun lowish angle action. 
Dug a pit at 7600 ft on a NE facing slope. Full propagation on isolation of the column on the layer of concern about 16 inches down in this zone. Went a little higher up and got a big whumpf and that was all I needed to bail on even the lower slopes.