Toured up the west face of Elk Mountain to minimize our slog and maximize the starting elevation. We found 1-2 cm's fresh snow at the trailhead and 10 cm near 7000'. Breakable crust down low, around 5500' it turned to supportable and lended to good dust on crust skiing. Minimal wind and below freezing at elevation. Dug one pit, WSW aspect at 6700'. Depth of 200 CM, CT 13 Q2 30 cm down, with another notable decomposing rain crust layer at 60 cm but not reactive in pit. ECTN 24 at that 30 cm rain crust.
