Corn Snow at Mid to Low Elevations

We toured in the Silver Peak area today to look for soft snow on mid to low elevation southerly aspects.  It was a cold morning with a strong overnight refreeze of the snow surface.  Moderate SW winds were keeping the snow surface cool and firm above 8000'.  We used ski crampons to access the upper ridge and up to the saddle just north of Silver Peak at 8320'.  Snow surface conditions softened into good corn snow at 12 noon below 8100' and down to 7300'.  Northerly aspects had a mix of variable and firm snow conditions.  In wind protected northerly terrain, decomposing surface crusts existed with near surface facets below.  No signs of instabilities were observed today.