Snow surface is a mixed bag above about 8500’. Northerly winds cross loaded gullies in the basin and left the snow surface a mix of wind slabs. Some were breakable, some supportable, and some covered by the new light density snow. Skiing was descent in sheltered areas, but they were hard to find.
Below 8500’, the snow surface was more consistent with generally 6-10” of right-side-up, light density snow. The snow surface has a near surface facet feel in some places. I didn’t note any obvious surface hoar, although the snow surface did sparkle beautifully from the large stellars that fell on Sunday.
There is plenty of light density snow available for wind transport leading up to the forecasted New Years storm.
I felt a breakable crust below the new snow while skiing a SE slope below about 7000’.
