Quick report
Alternate layers of loose snow and weak crusts, with surface hoar on top, about 50cm total depth, in a sheltered clearing in the trees east of Bald Mountain.
General overview of snow coverage looking northeast from Reids Peak towards Hayden Peak and surrounds. Note the difference in coverage on shady (snow with rocks protruding) and sunny (nearly barren in some places) aspects.
Low hazard tomorrow; just not enough snow yet.
Snowpack
In the zone we traveled, snow depth varied from a few centimeters in strongly sunny areas to up to 75cm or so wind loaded spots; the 50cm represented in the photo with the ice axe was fairly representative of the coverage on the northeast side of Bald Mountain and Reids Peak. Notable were a series of 3 crusts that were present to some degree even in relatively shady locations. Crusts were rather weak and nothing was really supportive; we post-holed to the ground the entire day. Surface snow was loose and faceted, unless wind affected. Based on strength and consistency, there seemed to be some evidence of rounding at the base of the snowpack as basal snow wasn't totally unconsolidated. In the zone below the saddle between Bald Mountain and Reids Peak, we encountered wind loading from the ridge above. Layers were rather consistent and generally rightside up, in the 4F to 1F hardness range. This was the only spot aside from pond and lake beds with anything resembling enough coverage to create a bed surface. The rest of the terrain we could see was characterized by general paucity of snow, with rock poking through consistently, and very little snow on sunny aspects.