Big views and big hoar

Toured into the Middle Fork to check on surface conditions before snow arrives tomorrow night.

• Strong temperature inversion this morning.  Temperatures on highway 2 near Essex stayed around 1 degree F until 830 this morning.  By noon, the temperature at 6100 feet and along highway 2 were the same, 23 degrees F. 
• All the recent cold temperatures and calm winds have allowed formation of surface hoar crystals up to 1 centimeter in this area.  We saw widespread surface hoar up to 7200 feet.  Above that, winds had knocked over the surface hoar or turned the snow surface to wind crust or thin wind slabs. 
• Below 5000 feet, we found the 1/20 rain crust buried under 3 inches of near surface facets.  This crust was breakable and made for challenging travel.  Above 5000 feet, the crust is 1 finger hard, is decomposing on sheltered northerly slopes, and is covered by 7 inches of near surface facets (1-2mm).   
• Above 7200 feet, we noted widespread wind affected snow, ranging from wind skin to wind slab.  We were able to initiate cracking in 4 inch thick wind slabs.  The snow beneath these slabs was fist hard facets. 
• With clear skies and big views, we saw no crowns or recent avalanche activity on nearby peaks. 

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