Hadn’t been to S Monitor since the first real storm and wanted to take a look at what the snowpack look like now. A quick hand pit at 9700ft E facing revealed about 18 to 20 inches of snow with a thin melt freeze crust at the ground then a 3 inch layer of faceted sugary snow, with a 2 inch melt freeze crust capping the facets, the melt freeze crust had a thin layer of faceting snow on top then yesterday’s storm snow. The melt freeze crust is fairly stout and supportable but with only 20 inches of snow on the ground and cold clear nights in the forecast the whole pack will most likely break down rapidly. I would think the more northerly part of the bowl would have more facets and way less melt freeze crust. The upper 20 feet of the bowl had been stripped down to the melt freeze crust by the NE winds.

photos: snow pit, melt freeze crust