What a lovely, freezing cold day in the mountains. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a snowpack that wasn't turning to crap! It was definitely a day of variable snow conditions. We rode almost every aspect out there trying to find some scraps. Every aspect presented something new and crappy. We ran into sun crusts, wind buff, rime crusts, snowmobile tracks....everywhere, and even some rocky ridgelines. Occasionally, just when I was ready to give up, we'd find some wind deposited fluff for a few turns and keep trying for more.

Even with all my complaining, it was still a beautiful and fun day in the mountains.

We rode mostly between 8000' and 9200'. We found a very defined rime crust on almost all aspects. The first picture of crust was found in North facing trees. The picture of cracks was on a ridgeline where the rime crust sat on top and started to sag and crack. Under that crust was very well developed near surface facets (pictured). I even had a small (6x6) pocket crack out on me on a steep northeast slope.

If it ever snows again, I'm afraid all of these factors will combine and it will be ugly.