Stevens Peak

While snow totals are underwhelming at this time, it was enough to cap and protect the surface hoar that has been growing over the last 18 days of dry weather. While it appears warm temperatures and wet snow below tree line helped destroy some of these weak feathers, the upper end of near tree line and above tree line slopes received drier snow that is preserving the surface hoar in an intact and upright position (some being 1-2cm in size) that survived in protected pieces of the terrain.

Some localized cracking between skis in areas where the surface crust was firmer. We did not observe any cracks extending beyond our skis.

Throughout our tour, I measured anywhere between a trace and 1"-2" of new snow. The new snow has come in warm, softening the preexisting surface crust below treeline. We did not observe any preserved surface hoar at lower elevations, and due to how wet the snow was, it appeared to be bonding fairly well to the crust. Around 6400', we found that this new snow was much drier and had capped and preserved some large (up to 1-2cm) surface hoar on a NE aspect below a ridgeline. Directly on the other side of this ridge (NW), we did not find preserved surface hoar. These large feathers were found to be preserved in more sheltered locations at the upper end of the middle elevation band and extending into the upper elevation band.

Upper elevations have stayed consistently cooler, and the crust below the small amounts of new snow was very firm, even on protected north aspects. 

At lower and mid elevations, we fought snow sticking to our skins that was reminiscent of what you would expect in the spring.