Mammoth Crest - Hamil Bowl

-Route: tamarack->Coldwater->Hamil Bowl to Ridge at 11,000', back down.

-No instabilities noted all day.  All firm windslab areas seemed very stable, numerous handpits at 9,500 - 11,000' elev. all resulted in failures below windslab/softsnow(faceted) interface partway down faceted snow layer, Q3 rough results.

-Calm winds at all elevations, no wind transport today anywhere. 

-Blue skies, not a cloud in the sky until 12:15, then increasing clouds and ridgetop obscured by 1pm.

-Lots of snow surfaces at all elevations had small surface hoar formations (1-2mm), including some slopes steeper than 35deg above tree line.

-Upper snowpack in trees without solar exposure is faceted and skiing was very good.

-In exposed areas above tree line snow surface quite variable from patches of firm windslab to soft.  With some investigation, can tell which snow surfaces look facted soft (textured) and which were windboard.  We booted up a steep couloir that was mostly firm windboard, and skied down another that was actually a great mix from softer than chalky to almost powder (great skiing actually, we picked good lines in the apron too to stay in soft snow ...  I think we had a bit of luck!)  

-Up high between 10,800-11,000 some areas in steep couloirs Dec 9th frozen rain layer was exposed at surface (1-2cm thick).     

-Negative 6 deg C at 10,900' at 11am.