Ruby Peak

Incoming snow later this week should bond favorably to south and southwest aspects, which have an almost spring-like snowpack structure (albeit much thinner).  Southeast aspects above treeline are transitional and more worrisome: crusts become thinner and potentially collapsible over facets on the colder half of southeast (from ~135° to 115°).   We skied a south-facing slope around 11:00 a.m. and found some nice spring corn/mashed potatoes.  

On south-facing terrain N/ATL, wet forms go through most or all of the snowpack, and the snow surface is often textured.  I didn't find any concerning PWLs on south aspects. On southeast aspects ATL, there are dry facets below surface crusts.  A pit on a SSE aspect (155°) showed a relatively thick crust (5cm) above facets, with one or two thin ice lenses in the facet layer from recent meltwater. A quick handpit showed a much thinner crust (<1cm) on an ESE aspect.