Quick report
Midday tour from Climbers Lot right-most moraine use trail via mostly consistent snow seam starting 6.2K’ up to 9.3K wind rock shelter. While stretch goal was to climb and ski Lower West Crater Rim, cooler/breezy day kept slightly dirty snow firmer than expected even down low so expected at least as firm from similar-looking (but uneven…) snow on Lower WCR from my 3:30pm Triangle Moraine vantage high point. Since 1) easy escape exit along Hot Rocks already melted out (and traverse to Hogsback even uglier), 2) direct sun already starting to descend away from the line with an hour of ascent remaining to its base to verify and 3) bus times limited, decided to bail on Lower WCR (which I’m pretty sure would have been a survival ski for me if conditions verified) and enjoy the melt-dodging but quality ski out. On the plus side, beautiful day with only 300’ A-framing ascent and - thx to Timberline snow redistro ops - still <100’ bootpack descent. Uploading explanatory pics for w/e skinners.