Jan 16, 2009, Baker environs

Despite ski area telemetry temps up to the mid 50's north facing slopes and flat valley floors remained frozen in a crust a ski could fracture but only occasionally break through. All crust, no dust.  North Table was solidly frozen. A directly south facing slope up to 5600' warmed up by 11 am into a pre-mush (not corn) reasonably skiable surface, with 0-4" ski penetration on the uptrack and little crust. I'd occasionally break through into deeper high moisture mush in rolls and gullies where the snow received indirect as well as direct sun.

By 1:30 even the south facing slopes were starting to set up. There is decent skiing to be had, but in a narrow time window on select slopes.