Elephant's Graveyard

We headed out Forestdale Road from the Red Lake parking area and ascended the main bowl in the Elephant's Graveyard. At lower elevations in the trees we encountered soft facets and surface hoar. The first views of our mostly east facing objective  were discouraging and we discussed the rock climbing options in this zone which might have been a fun choice today. As we climbed up the sunny slopes it felt like a warm spring day. Coverage was just barely sufficient to gain the ridge next to Elephant's Back. Skiing back down the slopes we ascended the snow was softened by the sun and warm temps. In the early afternoon back low in the trees we did observe intact surface hoar on shaded slopes.