Quick AM tour up Rodeo Ridge to the ridgeline. Found similar conditions reported by DeBruin. Mixed bag of conditions. Old skin tracks were filled in with wind blown snow and difficult to follow in most areas. We did find soft settled snow to ski, but we had to search for it. There were patchy wind slabs and crusts nearly everywhere and in odd days places, like normally sheltered trees. It was difficult to relax and “trust” our turns - as you never knew if it it would be soft or punchy.

The only cracking we found was minor and limited to just below our skis. Snow plumes were visible along the ridgeline and I suspect it wouldn’t have been too hard to find some small sensitive wind slabs.

Interesting temperature layering this morning. Teens and 20’s in the valley driving in, but Ben Lomond Trail Snotel reported 50 deg. I didn’t believe it until we felt an extremely warm and unseasonal pocket of air as we started our ascent. Temps seemed to be cooler again above this thin warm layer.

Found a little bit of preserved surface hoar, but only on flat terrain at the lowest elevations (below 6000’). Some areas at this elevation with previous ski tracks had a solid melt freeze crust.

Overall, I feel that the warm temps and winds are creating fairly ideal conditions to promote bonding with the next layer of snow.

Photo below is of “Southern Utah-esque” snow sculptures on the ridge line at 8600’.