Low expections, rather than low elevations, seemed to be the key today. We found a surprising lack of crust at lower elevations on N.E. aspects with a couple cms of new snow above it. Higher elevations in Cacade yielded well bonded, stable goodness with no hint of crust. We exited into Skiumah, and found that winds had created a tapestry of crust delights, subliminated beneath a couple cms of new. The turns were like a box of chocolates: you never knew what you'd get, exactly. The pockets of soft snow we found didn't feel slabby. Near the top, on steeper angles, we saw some sloughs that ran further than we expected. Surface crusts were present starting around 5500ft in more open, NW aspects. And then, of course, came the melt. As of 1430, things were melting with some clear precip up to 4300ft. We saw some moderate to strong ridgetop winds during the day, but nothing in the shelter of where we skied. Temps ranged from freezing in the morning to, of course, above freezing in the afternoon as we descended.
Hand pit is from a NE aspect, around 6000ft. Base of the pit is a stout crust with lots of debris--guessing it's the 2/1.
