Quick report
Skinned up into the Party Knoll area with a mixed experience level group. Skied some Party Knoll laps and a more sporty lap on Chickenhead. Snow depth and texture were variable depending on the action of the wind over the past few days and microterrain, but nothing was unpleasant to ski on or provoked concern. Some observations from the day: (1) Hand shear tests on N/NE aspects showed a 2-3" layer of cohesive snow over unconsolidated dry snow. The layer would pull off but was too insubstantial to pick up; it just fell apart immediately. Below that, the crust was solid. (2) The snow at Henskin Lake (~5450') was snowball snow, but above that altitude was light and fluffy. This was apparent on the ski out as well where thinly deposited patches of snow over the groomed cat track were perceptibly grabbier underfoot than the groomed snow. (3) The rocky areas on the N aspects of Three Way and JBAS were bare with rock-hard chunks of debris from previously sloughed snow below. (4) Visibility wasn't great with clouds hovering around summit altitude on the King, but there were no recent slides or crowns visible where we looked.