Early melt layer at Tragedy Springs

Driving past Silver Lake at 9am, my dash thermometer already read 40 degrees. Although there was a cool, light E breeze along the Tragedy Springs ridge, as soon as we dropped into the E facing slopes above Plasse Camp the breeze disappeared and it was quite warm and sunny. Snow surfaces in the direct sun were wet enough for enjoyable corn skiing, but didn't soften quite enough for easy sidehilling on the snowmobile. We left before noon and never saw any roller ball activity from the steep and rocky E facing slopes in the area.

Pic 1: Just enough wet snow on the surface for good skiing, but not easy snowmobiling.

Pic 2: Previously wind deposited and cold slopes still held pockets of dry snow.

Pic 3: Graupel, somewhere between faceting and melt/freezing, in between the firm old snow and the newer melt freeze crust developing at the surface.