Melting snow and falling ice from the rock walls around and above the glacier.
Started at the Monolith, continued up over the boulder field onto the Lane. Were able to use our skins sooner than expected.
Melting snow and falling ice from the rock walls around and above the glacier.
Low morning clouds with a few sucker holes. Afternoon clouds moving to a high ceiling, providing great visibility. Very light wind by the afternoon.
New snow in the valley was slushy on the morning hike in and melted out by the afternoon. Wet heavy snow, perfect for snowman making, at the boulders and at the base of the glacier, getting a little drier but still heavy at the top. Thin layer of ice near the boulders. Surface was variable with small round snow at mid and top of the glacier.
No formal pit but dug a few quick hand pits.
Snow depth varied from 1.5ft - 3ft deep.
Layer about 7 inches down that broke clean in all the hand pits, on the glacier, consisted of larger round snow. No womfing or shooting cracks were observed.