For the fourth week in a row, we found good skiing despite very shallow overall pack. Because of low snow considiotns ew returned to Electric Lake Bowl, knowing coverage was sufficent to carefully ski some runs. last weeks unseasonalbly warm temps left a melt-freeze crust almost everywhere except the northernly sheltered slope, ie Electric Lake Bowl.
The overall pack is the strongest we have seen in quite a few years, and continues to get stronger with warm temps and settlement.
Was much colder last couple of days with 6" of very low density snow that fell on Wednesday/Thursday that has settled out to 4" on top of the melt-freeze crust, with the old graupel layer still hanging out below the crust. The crust was hard to find, and you could barely feel it skiing the steeper due north aspects.
Big worry for future is widespread surface hoar and upcoming storm forecast to come in upside-down with warming temps later in storm and possibility for significant new snow and water content.
With warm storms and significant new loading, a natural cycle seem inevitable, but in the bigger picture, will add to snowpack and in the long run, build on a very good start. Next couple of days could be very touchy, just need to be patient and wait for things to settle out and heal.
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