Observation: Hoyt Peak

While heading up today I learned the snow down low is mostly isothermal and damp with a little crust on top making for difficult off-road travel. Later up high on Hoyt Peak I discovered snow depth at altitude was not much greater than down low ~8" of light wind free powder. On top of Hoyt I was able to easily get the snow to sluff with ski kicks but with the lack of wind there was little cohesion in the snow to form a slab to run. Once down in the slope I discovered most of the face had naturaled during the cycle. The best snow was found on low angle terrain on the north half of the compass. Later in the afternoon while heading back the northwest winds were ramping up and snow was transporting to the south east.