Quick report
Poked around the Pass Saturday and Sunday. Freezing fog at low elevations Saturday, otherwise clear and sunny both days. Low-tide conditions opened up interesting access but also gave us the opportunity to swim through alder on trails we'll ski easily later in the year. Surface hoar of varying sizes, ranging from miniscule to impressive, in the shade at all elevations, from the lowest snow to the top of Granite. Solar slopes generally have a slippery crust. We we to return to Granite tomorrow, I'd bring a whippet or a light ax, even though the footing with microspikes is superb. Untrammeled slopes above ~4600' preferred snowshoes on shady slopes. Microspikes were welcome on anything supportable. Snowpack-structure seemed to gain complexity above 5000' in places, with faceting crusts below the surface in addition to the ubiquitous surface facets at all elevations. Fingers crossed that the next storm starts out warm and wet, otherwise it could be a spicy start to the season.