Good refreeze at Ralston

Evidence of a good overnight refreeze was observed on the sunny side of Ralston this morning. A cool NE wind kept the corn window wide open until at least my departure at 11am, though I suspect it lasted beyond that. No evidence of wet instabilities was observed above treeline. Below treeline, I could intentionally push wet snow downhill and it entrained more snow, but it was limited to the top few inches of surface snow. Even at 11am on rocky, bushy, steep and sunny aspects below treeline, there remained a supportable frozen layer beneath the wet surface snow.

Pic 1: AM zero boot pen on dirty, low elevation snow under dense tree cover just beyond the parking off HWY 50. I was able to keep skis on for most of my ascent, and only took them off to cross low elevation granite because it was easier than going around.

Pic 2: An impressive frozen layer at low elevation in the trees. 20cm or 8" here, which remained supportable through my 11am departure.

Pic 3: Not much more snow at higher elevation than low. I wonder if this is due to a season with a low overall snowfall total, but relatively cold storms that resulted in snow at low elevations. I've done this same route in the past with lots of bare soil and bushwhacking required at low elevations, but much more snow up high than observed today.

Pic 4: Looking down to a due N aspect at 8800ft, with visible drainage channels from recent warm weather. I often drop towards Upper Echo for a lap before descending corn back to HWY 50, but N aspects were not appealing today.