Variable conditions on Mt Rose

We experienced a variety of snow conditions on our tour from Fireplug to Galena bowls.  Cold snow could still be found on N aspects, while E aspects and low angle terrain had breakable crust on the surface, and lower elevations and S aspects had spring-like conditions by the early afternoon.  The amount of settled new snow on our tour varied from 2-10."   New snow amounts decreased rapidly as we traveled east and to lower elevations, with plenty of rocks, bushes, and other hazards at lower elevations.  We found a melt freeze crust under the new snow which varied in supportability depending on aspect.   In most areas, we found a weak layer at the interface of this crust and the new snow.  This could be observed both in snowpit tests and while skinning on a sidehill.  We looked for buried surface hoar as reported in other parts of the basin, but only found small surface hoar in a few locations.