Quick report
Took a trip into the Grace Lakes area to check avalanche conditions on polar aspects and to investigate how the snowpack is adjusting to our warm weather. It has not gotten below freezing at this location for three days and nights. I was able to force some roller balls on very steep terrain on polar aspects around 5000'. The WL problem was largely stubborn at this elevation and aspect. I dug a snow profile at 4750' and found good structure, good strength, and good energy, (pit score 9). Melt water has only percolated down to the previous storm's warm up layer, ~20 cm down, and at the old/new interface ~30 cm down. The surface hoar at the 3/9 interface has transitioned to melt forms and there is a subtle ice layer along with rounded polycrystals at this interface.