Powderhouse

We traveled up to the top of Powderhouse peak this morning. Right out of the truck there was ~6-8" of new snow at the trailhead at 0830. The snow was low density and unconsolidated. Snowfall throughout our tour varied from very light to periods of moderate snowfall with ocassional breaks in the clouds showing some blue skies at times.  As we traveled up, there was really no wind present until the ridgeline near treeline. The wind was transporting snow out of the W-SW and soft wind slab formation was occuring but was not very stiff or well developed. At 9100' I stopped to check the new snow and old snow interface. There was about ~30cm at this elevation. During a couple tests snow broke apart in the shovel tilt and compressed to nothing on a CT. At the summit there was overcast skies prevented us from seeing adjacent peaks.  On the descent riding conditions were great but one would hit the crust below the new snow every now and then. There was indications of loose dry movement sliding down the melt freeze crust from last week's warming event; be sides that, there was no other signs of instability observed.