Started at the pull-out at 2:15. Strong winds from the East, 40° with snow clumping on skins down by the highway. Sunny, some pockets of snowflakes throughout the day but no accumulation noted. Standard skin up. Rollerballs. Started noting graupel-looking snow at 2,200’. Started noting wind effect at 2,400’. Stiff wind crust at 2,600’, getting stiff enough at 2,700’ that I booted up the first lap. Nice pocket of protected snow on SW face. Back at the highway at 5:45.