Transitional East Aspects on Rubicon

We toured on Rubicon Peak to look at how East aspects were transitioning to spring snow conditions.  Northerly aspects remain variable with areas of soft near surface facets, breakable crusts, and firm crusts.  Areas that have seen heavy use are firm with non uniform conditions.  E aspects near 9000' still show signs of a winter snowpack with thin breakable crusts and soft faceted snow below these crusts.  Transitional snow conditions exist down to around 8200' with areas having 3-5'' of punchy soft snow and a texture surface.  This transitional snow has not seen enough melt freeze cycles to consolidate the upper snowpack.  Below 8200', these E aspects start to show signs of more repeated melt freeze cycles with some corn snow conditions in open areas.  Usable snow coverage goes down to around 7500' on E aspects and to below 7000' on more shaded aspects.  No signs of wet snow instabilities were observed in this location.