Observation: Mill Hollow

Snowpack was generally about 24-30 inches deep. At mid and low elevations it is all faceted (except on due south). As you gain elevation, there is a little more body in the middle of the snowpack that makes skiing possible. Snowmobiles still drop to the ground. The other thing making skiing conditions good is the loose faceted snow at the surface - we call this recrystallized powder. It's not a problem until it snows and makes a slab on top of this weak layer.

At higher elevations, there is a bit more of a slab present. The layer of most concern is a layer of faceted snow on top of a crust about a foot above the ground. It is very apparent in the photo below. What varies a lot is how noticeable the crust below this layer is. In many places like north facing slopes, this crust is very soft and difficult to feel. On E and SE facing slopes this crust is easier to see.

Photo below is 15x of the small facets on the snow surface that make for good skiing in recrystallized powder.

Slight crust on southerly aspects. Barely there SE aspects. Just under the crust are obvious small facets. On E and N aspects the near surface facets exist but there is no crust.