Snow Conditions, Red Cone

Toured today from the Tamarack TH to the top of Red Cone for some hot laps in Red Cone Bowl and to check out the new snow.  The morning was almost overcast and warm with no wind.  The clouds started to thin a bit in the afternoon, still no wind.  Even without a lot of direct solar input, unshaded surfaces were starting to moisten in the afternoon.  In an open area at 9930', the new snow from Thursday had settled to 23cm. 

The upper reaches of the N face of Red Cone bowl had a bit of a wind skin, but skiied well despite.  Most of the bowl was slightly heavy boot-top powder over firm pre-storm snow that made itself felt on hard turns.  Many rocks have been covered over in the bowl but are lurking just below the surface.  Hollywood chute seems like it barely got filled in at all in this storm and is still a minefield of rocks.  Skiing the trees down to Horseshoe lake was very pleasant and bottomless as they held powder even before this last storm.