The approach to Cutler ridge now requires hiking from the parking area to where the summer trail first enters the oak woods and the first skinnable snow begins.

The supportable crust surface at lower elevations remained frozen until mid afternoon in the shaded aspects and softened slightly where kissed by the sun.

An inch or so of soft faceted grains adorned the mid-elevation crust on wind-protected NW through NE aspects.

After carefully negotiating the rock-studded slope for 100-200' just below the ridge line, the steep NE face of Ben Lomond sported a delightful mosaic of dense/faceted loose snow and hard wind crust.

Often as elusive as perfect powder, excellent corn skiing conditions developed by early afternoon on the SE facing flanks of Willard peak below the big cliffs.