Sun and Wind on Red Lake Peak

Toured up Red Lake Peak from the Hwy 88 pullout below Stevens Peak. Close to the highway, the snow is melting quickly and there were small areas with unsupportable snow at 8:30am. In a few below treeline north facing areas I encountered an inch or two of lingering new snow from last weekend. This snow was transitioning and incredibly gloppy. At higher elevation there was a breakable melt freeze crust on north aspects. On the descent just after 11am, I was mostly on east facing terrain and once below the ridge found enjoyable spring snow. I checked out a steeper rocky south facing area that I've used previously for evidence of loose wet activity, but it was essentially bare of snow.

Photo 1: A quick pit with hand hardness on a north aspect at 8800 feet. 

Photo 2: Ridges were windy and skies were mostly blue over Red Lake Peak. To the east huge lenticular clouds loomed. 

Photo 3: Sunny slopes from 8-9500 feet had minimal ski penetration. 

Photo 4: Stepping off my split board on the sunny side of the ridge there were areas with a dramatically weaker surface freeze and 35 cm boot penetration. 

Photo 5: Steeper sunny east facing terrain was decent corn around 11am.