Mid day tour up into Mill D via Short Swing and over into Powder Park 3. Overcast skies never relented and there were steady light snow showers from 11 am-3 pm. The sun was visible at times through the opaque clouds, and it did warm the Southwest slopes of Short Swing by 230 pm. Otherwise, it was limited visibility all day. Stuck to the forested northerly terrain and was surprised by how well the new snow had bonded to the old snow surface. 12-15" of low density over a smooth base. Felt like a mid winter's day and the SW winds were light atop the Cone (9,200'). No instabilities noted, even when provoking steep test slopes along ridge lines. Would expect it to be a very different world above 10,000' where the wind may have had a chance to work with the low density snow.

Photo:

1. Pushing snow along ridge between Short Swing and The Cone.