Warm at the core lodge

Checked out a valley southwest of core lodge and dug a quick pit. Hs 95 cm at 1600 m. Top 40 cm is heavy recent snow, then a 5 cm soft crust with surface hoar above it and facets below it, then 50 cm faceted snow to base. Did compression test: CTM 18 at 40 down, on top of crust. Some settlement and whumphing while trail breaking, but less than last week. Basal facet layer seems stronger than last week. Rapid warming made the snow heavy; +8C back at core lodge. Will probably form a crust on top.