Difficult to find intact buried surface hoar

We rode several drainages today, ranging in elevation from 8,000ft to 8,900ft, and with all aspects represented - though we spent significantly more time on N/NE/E (and found great riding conditions, with the exception of the tree bombs). I focused on trying to find recently buried surface hoar that was still intact. I put my hands and shovel into the snow on every cold, open slope where I would normally expect to see surface hoar. Although I could easily identify a lower density layer right below the surface, I was unable to find buried intact surface hoar in that layer - only the occasional feathery crystal. It was quite warm today, even on colder slopes, and although the snow remained cool and dry enough for enjoyable snowmobiling, I think it may have been warm enough to destroy any previously intact surface hoar. I was able to find some areas with surface hoar still on the surface, and it was consistently laying down and decomposing.

Pic 1: Great riding conditions in between tree bombs. We found more open and higher elevation cold slopes that weren't ruined by them.

Pic 2: I took dozens of photos like this today, across several miles of drainages, and only found the occasional feathery surface hoar crystal in the lower density layer just below the surface.

Pic 3: There were still areas with surface hoar on the surface, but it was already laying down and decomposing in the warm weather.