Observations from Crater Lake

Snow cover on shaded aspects didn't really begin until around 8400ft, just below the elevation of Crater Lake. Slopes with some indirect sun were firm and supportable to foot travel. Slopes in full shade held noticeably weaker snow, and I postholed to the ground in several places. Observations in the full shade indicated that even the snow near the ground (that elsewhere has been observed as strong) is weakening through the faceting process.

Pic 1: A decent base on slopes in full shade above Crater Lake, though comprised of weakening snow.

Pic 2: A crust up about 30cm from the ground, but the rest of the snowpack was weak and faceted with a thin crust at the surface.

Pic 3: The bottom half of the snowpack made up of visibly angular grains (facets). Boot penetration was to the ground in many places, and where I dug, the bottom half of the snowpack was 4 Finger hard, with weaker snow above.