Elephant's Hump Observation

There was a nice observation from the Elephant's Back and Elephant's Hump area on 1/8 and unfortunately conditions haven't improved from a ski perspective. On shady aspects below treeline surface conditions are either shiny ice or an inch of soft snow on top of that easily breakable crust. Conditions were variable and in some places the terrifying looking icy crust broke easily and skins gripped fine. In other spots less scary looking crust didn't break and skins slipped like they were on a mirror. On ridges snow was more likely to be firm or firm and icy. It appeared that south facing slopes in this area were softening during the middle of the day but we were a little late to catch that window and coverage is spottier on sunny aspects as well. While skinning there was a drastic difference between 1 cm ski penetration and 20 cm boot penetration. The old snow below the thin rain crust is clearly weakening. Where the crust is thin it is easy to break past it with a gloved hand but the soft uncohesive faceting snow below resists making a snowball. 

Photo 1: Shiny surface ice extending roughly 50 feet down this steep slope.

Photo 2: Reverse skin track

Photo 3: Shiny ice layer. 

Photo 4: A broken piece of crust with about an inch of soft snow on top. 

Photo 5: Wind has done damage on open south slopes in this area