Variable Conditions on Rubicon

Widespread cloud cover and cool temperatures kept the snow surface frozen through the morning hours today. E aspects held breakable crusts with softer snow below them and a firm old crust below that.  N and NE aspects held a mix of soft cold snow and breakable crusts depending on how open and sun-exposed those areas were yesterday. Near the base of the recent snow a graupel layer did exits, but hand pits and snowpit tests in multiple locations indicated that the recent snow and the graupel layer are bonding well to the old crusts (3 ECTN's and several hand pits with no results). Winds and cloud cover increased during the tour.