Quick report
Toured out of the grotto falls trailhead today. We found some cold snow with surface hoar around the creek and in the shade, and mank snow in the sun. Heading up, we found isothermic, hot snow in the trees below 8000’ on an east aspect. At around 8300-8500’, the snow pack deepened, and surface hoar became wide spread on shady aspects. Sunny aspects had a slight crust w melted hoar crystals. At 9300’ on a north aspect, we dug a pit. Around 100-120cm deep, we found a uniform snowpack with compressed basal facets. There was evidence of a small crust about 15 cm down. At the surface, small surface hoar crystals were observed. We ascended into a north facing chute, at 9600’, we dug a hand pit and found about 10-20 cm of facets. A 60cm(ish) slab over the facets was uniform. We preformed a shovel shear and the slab popped out quite easily. We observed surface hoar forming on snow inside the chute. We turned around, and skied a south facing aspect at the same elevation, finding creamy, wind affected pow.