First trip to Mt Aire this year, we ended up skiing the chutes facing E and NE, the snow was softer on the more easterly sunny slopes, seemed like the more NE shady slopes had more wind damage and wind crust. I was surprised at the total snow pack which was variable but around 2 feet or less in most areas. Dug a quick pit at 8500ft NE facing, it consisted of a thin layer of damp facets at the ground then a really stout crust that you could barely penetrate with your pole handle, then basically a 2 finger slab up to the latest storm snow. In the thinner rocky areas the whole snow pack is hollow and faceted. Jumped on a few wind drifts but didn't get any cracking or collapsing. The main hazard today was moose, but the surface snow is weak and in some places the whole pack is weak and would not react well to a large load.

photos: snow pit, and still bushy.