Shovelnose creek

Skied around Shovelnose in excellent conditions today. HST10-20cm low density powder overlies a thick rain crust. Storm snow fell with seemingly no wind. Snow line down to 900m, drove to 1000m with chains. A pit at 1700m, east aspect revealed well preserved surface hoar & facets up to 8mm down 70cm (110cm snowpack). No results on it during compression test, but shovel shear pulled it out. Numerous melt freeze/rain crusts throughout snowpack. Resistant planar CT16 down 30cm melt freeze crust with small facets above. Recent skier accidental sz1.5 observed, wind loaded convexity from ~24-48hr ago. Great skiing on polar aspects,temps seemingly dropping. Sunny slopes glopping up later in the day.