Mixed conditions on N side Ralston

Our party took an afternoon tour up the S side of Ralston down the N side and then back up and out on the S side.  We found highly variable conditions.  In protected N facing trees the snow was stable, unconsolidated, deep and crust free. South facing treed areas were still largely unconsolidted but less deep and some crusts were noted away from the immediate protection of tree cover.  Higher elevation southerly alpine slopes were holding crust free unconsolidated snow.   We skied a steep northerly couloir and found challenging conditions.  A few inches of new or blown in snow rested atop an old rain crust. This new snow was easily releasing in shallow slabs back down to the very hard crust.  Burial would have been unlikely due to the shallow depth but it was necessary to ski between "safe spots" in order to manage terrain trap hazards.  The recent northerly winds had stripped much of the snow from above treeline northerly faces. Also, many of the steeper northerly slopes appear to have released naturally throughout the recent storm cycle.  As can be seen in the photos, some of the crown heights and debris piles currently on Ralston's north side are massive.  Also, there are some very large overhanging cornices in the area.