Early season outing

Great first day on the snow. It was summer here on Thurdsay although thankfully the skies opened up Friday and this dropped enough lower valley snow to allow us to access the alpine via a thin rocky trail. Valley bottom temps near 0 this morning with alpine temps -5deg 1030hrs at 1900m. Total snow height at 1900 meters averaged 70cms after probing several locations. 15cms above ground is a 1.5cm rain crust with large facets and depth hoar below (sugary badness) Above is an average right side up snowpack. Evidence of strong south west wind action at alpine ridge tops with windslabs developing at surface at lee ridges. No avalanche activity.