Limited Refreeze on Donner Summit

A very limited snow surface refreeze was found in the Donner Summit area today.  Cloud cover began to increase quickly this morning along with SW/W winds that were gusting into the strong range along the upper ridges and peaks.  Above freezing temperatures were reported in this area overnight via remote sensors with rapid warming this morning.  The previous strong melt freeze crust that existed below the last Monday night/Tuesday storm snow has deteriorated in this area. In places that I dug, 5'' of very wet surface snow exists over a 2'' 1F hard remaining melt freeze crust.  Below this was up to 3 feet of mostly wet snow.  Boot pen was shin deep in most areas by 11:30am with marginal ski supportability.  Recent cornice collapses and wet loose avalanches continue to occur in this area.