Light to moderate winds with light flagging on ridge tops. Skies: few to scattered clouds throughout the day.
Sun heating up East to South aspects.
Observation: Chugach State Park
Location: Hanging Valley
Dug a quick test pit before ascending, then our group skied three chutes from ~5500′ in Hanging Valley without incident.
The directly north facing chutes had little to no wind impact, with great riding conditions. Hand shears along the ascent showed no signs of instability. Sluffs ran far in steep terrain.
The more north-westerly line at the head of the valley held wind affected snow with a large loaded wind pillow at the very top. After popping a few hand shears with high energy near the top, we descended just shy of the pillow.
Weather
Snow surface
Lower elevations had a stout sun crust. Moving into higher elevations and/or shaded aspects, we found dry surface snow with ski pen of ~7cm.
Thin layer of surface hoar observed on snow surface up to ~4000'.
South and East aspects showed obvious signs of solar impact, with plentiful point releases around rock bands.
Snowpack
Test pit: North aspect @ 3700', 20 degrees, HS 270cm
ECTX
Good structure:
Fist hardness to 20cm down
4 Finger hardness 20cm - 45cm down
1 Finger hardness 45cm - 100 cm down