Quick report
Weather was sunny, calm, and warm but not hot suggesting to me the air temperature stayed relatively cool. Leaving the parking lot at 10:30, the snow surface was not yet moist and had a breakable sun crust. Above tree line, the snow showed moderate texture from wind effects. Despite the calm weather at muir and below, winds were visibly transporting snow on the upper mountain (11000’+). Leaving muir at 130, the snow surface was still cold and dry wind-pack, mostly smooth on the snowfield. Snow softened lower down (below 7000’), with large rollerballs and pinwheels on steeper south aspects. Below there the snow was soft and somewhat slushy but not saturated with water. Low level clouds (about 7000’) moved in around 2pm. Overall favorable skiing conditions.
Avalanche
Observed some small (D1) natural wet loose slides on the west side of the nisqually valley around 7500’, SE aspect around 11:00am on steep slopes beneath cliffs. Also saw recent-appearing debris from larger (D2+) slides higher on the west side of the nisqually drainage, again steep slopes with SE aspect.