We tried to get above the crust in Connaught Creek today by going up towards Balu Pass. It didn't work. Between 1900m and 2000m the rain crust from the storm event at the start of the week 'disappeared' and a newer temperature crust showed up on the surface, and from what we could tell goes all the way to ridgetop in this part of the Pass. After digging we discovered that the rain crust was only slightly buried but still there and that there had been rain soaked snow during the last storm to at least 2300m in Connaught Creek. This rain crust has already started to break down and facet. The newer crust on the surface was likely from the inversion tuesday/wednesday because it was still present, and not any weaker in lower angled or more shady terrain.

The most recent storm snow has settled under the surface crust into a 4F/1F slab about 30-40cm thick that was unreactive in testing where we were, and the Persistent Slab sitting on the early January surface hoar down 110-130cm didn't produce concerning results either.

Both crusts were breakable but skiable, but made for loud, grabby skiing on the way down. We avoided treed slopes on the way down due to the crust and extensive tree-bombing that has made the skiing in the trees hazardous. Open low angled slopes were where the best turns were found. Also the Connaught Creek ski out was very firm, rutted and fast, maybe the most hazardous part of the whole day.

Pray for either sun or snow for more enjoyable ski conditions in the Pass in the short term.