Variable surface conditions at Indian Valley

A calm, cloudy day prevented significant warming around Blue Lakes and Indian Valley today. We encountered several surface conditions, including surface hoar, near surface faceting, crusts, hardpack, and refrozen tree bombs. Cold slopes away from the trees held 8-12" of cold sugary snow that made for good riding conditions, but may be a future weak layer.

Pic 1: Clouds above Indian Valley. They seemed to have more of a cooling effect than a greenhousing effect, even at the warmest point of the day. 

Pic 2: Lots of surface hoar and near surface/crust faceting observed today.