Firm Snow on Most of Stevens Peak

Cloudy skies prevented the snow surface from softening on the exposed E-SE-S aspects. On those aspects, we found firm frozen sun crusts with mostly smooth surfaces. This crust was more firm and thick on the southerly aspects and slightly thinner on the more easterly aspects. We did find some soft snow on the sheltered northerly aspects. These patches of soft snow were not continuous. They were interspersed amongst variable conditions including firm wind buffed snow, scoured surfaces, and other wind affected snow.  On more exposed N-NE-E aspects, wind scouring had left firm, icy, and uneven surfaces behind. We chose to avoid these areas and opted for trying to descend the sheltered slopes with soft snow or the smooth and firm snow on the SE-S aspects. Once we got below 8400 ft, wet sticky snow existed in any area where firm crusts did not. Ski cuts on steep slopes at these lower elevations did trigger some small pinwheels and rollerballs. 

Photo 1: Cloudy skies kept the snow surfaces firm and frozen.

Photo 2: Mostly supportable but sometimes breakable sun crusts existed on E aspects. 

Photo 3: Firm uneven surfaces including exposed rain crusts existed on E-NE aspects.

Photo 4: Small pinwheels and rollerballs triggered by a ski cut on an ENE facing slope around 8200 ft.