Crust Sounds Intensify

Went for a little recreational bushwhacking and crust scraping on my day off.

• A lack of low elevation snow - thanks, in part, to rain on the 9th - means the Middle Fork is still pretty bushy.
• When the storm on the 9th came in warm and wet, there was a round of small, natural, loose wet avalanches on north and east facing slopes at middle elevations.
• The crust that formed on 12/8, and was thickened when the rain from the 9th froze, makes for loud, but stable conditions below about 5800'. We didn't get above middle elevations.
• On top of the crust there are a variety of surfaces: 1-2" of faceting snow, 1' thick wind slabs here and there, and up to 18" of graupel where it pooled below cliffs and in gullies.
• Below those varied surface conditions it's basically crusts and large, sugary facets all the way down.

There was just enough coverage for us to venture up the drainage, but I think it'll be a while before I head back to the Middle Fork for a fun day. The skiing was a little chattery, and sounded like ripping velcro.