Upper elevation north aspects escaping melt in Ophir Creek.

Touring the main N aspect avalanche paths on Chickadee Ridge this morning revealed cold, unconsolidated snow once away from the wind affected ridgetop area. Breakable melt-freeze crust was noted on the snow surface during the approach on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. The N aspects had escaped snow surface melt yesterday and crust formation last night in all but low angle areas. The unconsolidated snow on N aspects displayed some very minor and fully inconsequential loose dry behavior while making turns. Cutting and kicking at several wind slab areas revealed no signs of instability.

Large surface hoar was present and persisting on N aspects, but will likely be destroyed by continued warming and increasing SW winds ahead of the next storm cycle.

Our lowest elevation of travel on snow today was about 8,500'. At this elevation and above, we saw no signs of snow surface melt prior to our departure from the area around noon. Descending the Mt. Rose Hwy, signs of active snow surface melt became prominent at and below 8,000'.