There was about 50-80cm of snow depth that had fallen over just a couple of days. The new snow was mostly just fluff but there was some stiffening as I approached 11,000ft.

I traveled mostly in the near and below treeline bands on northerly through easterly aspects.

From the Brainerd Lake Winter Trailhead I traveled up to Left Hand Reservoir and then on to Niwot Ridge.

In most areas I traveled there was a snow pack from about 50cm to 80cm deep. This was made up of a basal layer of 4 finger hard rounded snow that was slightly moist and could be made into a snowball. This basal layer was supportive to boots and ski penetration was approximately half the depth of the snowpack. Above this was fist hard new snow. I found this similar set up across most of the terrain where I traveled and I was unable to find any basal facets. On isolated wind affected features and towards the upper part of the near treeline band the snow was stiffening and cracking but cracks remained localized around my skis.

S-2 for about 4 hours in the morning with light to moderate southeasterly winds.