Warmer on Luther Pass

Spent most of my tour breaking trail on a south facing slope between 7600 and 9000 feet and remarking on how deep the Near Surface Facets were. During the morning nearly all the terrain I travelled was holding around 20 cms of soft wintery NSFs (upon exiting around 2pm, the sun was melting the most sun exposed areas). Dug a pit on a north west aspect (330) just over the ridge (at pin drop) and found snow depth of 135 cms, 20 cms of soft NSFs, and no reactivity on the 12/12 crust layer. 

Photo 1: Small 1mm Surface Hoar and Near Surface Facets on a partially shaded area on a south facing slope at 8000 feet. 

Photo 2: Older and larger Surface Hoar that had been previously knocked over. SH in this area was less impressive than in other areas of the forecast zone. 

Photo 3: Hand hardness indicated a right side up snowpack with about 20 cms of NSFs at the surface. Snow depth 135 and 12/12 rain crust is at 80cms. Pit elevation 9200.