Sproatt NE Alpine

Obs from valley bottom to 1700m alpine zone. No avy issues in trees below 1500m where the last storm created a solid crust with 10-15cm of facetted snow over top that is actually reasonably well bonded on a spongy layer over the crust. Ski penetration improves markedly at 1500m+ where ski pen rapidly rises to 20-35cm in facetted snow. With milder night-time temps, the lower facets are bonding better to lower layers. 170116 crust down over one metre with avg snowpack from 250-300+ cm. Trees still heavily loaded and rising temps tomorrow should produce a serious bomb cycle. Only loose dry size ones noted from yesterday and today on steeper (45+ degree) slopes triggered by tree bombs or rock faces heating up in intermittent sun. Ski cuts failing loose dry in facets down 25-30 from surface on slopes steeper than 45. Surface hoar from 4-16mm on snow surface from 1500m and up in open trees and alpine.