As crazy as things are in the world today, I found solace in managing uncertainty in a more familiar setting...
Toured up Rescue. Skinning was variable, with notable melt-freeze layer down low which softened on N and E aspects about 4500'. Skinning up the ridge on Penrose on the south aspect was sporty at best, very sun-baked-refrozen-to-an-icy-sheen slopes that were not softening by the time we summited about 1pm.
We noticed several wet-slides from previous days (probably the day before), one of which appeared to have popped out a shallow but expansive wind-slab. Small surface hoar was developing in more shaded aspects above 5000'.
No signs of instability were noted during the tour, with significant sun but temps remaining low enough that we didn't see any point-releases or sluffing. We felt comfortable skiing a steep east aspect, finding a few small wind pockets but generally firm and stable snow. We skied out of the drainage by 2pm.
