Obs from Johnson Canyon

Cold,  crisp morning at Johnson Canyon trailhead @ 830. As we toured up canyon, the group noticed widespread surface hoar  / near surface facets with a supportable crust underneath (10cm thick) . South aspects quickly transitioned as solar and temps warmed the snow surface. As the top 3-5 inches of snow warmed it began to show signs of instablity. With each test slope and informal test we were easily able to initiate cracking / movement in the top layer of new snow. Skiing into the north aspects on donner ridge we found cold, unconsolidated snow on a supportable crust. Traveling back into johnson canyon the south aspects were in a full melt phase with a semi-supportable crust.