Hola La Niña!

This is out of order, but here's one of the final snow tests Josh conducted in the backcountry near Alpental. Notice the block of snow below him, which slid on what appeared to be a weaker hoar frost layer without breaking after Josh cut on the snow above. Not surprisingly, I-90's been closed twice in as many days due to avalanches.
When you see this at the parking lot, you know it's going to be good...
Josh Wozniak skinnin' up.
There's been a bit of snow here as of late.
A winter wonderland.
We didn't expect to see so much new snow so Josh dug a snow pit to analyze the conditions.
Here's the two feet of powder on top of a weak ice layer of hoar frost (running along the bottom of the picture).
A closer view of the poorly consolidated hoar frost layer responsible for us getting out of the backcountry.
A small avalanche in progress coming off the cliffs - great lunch time entertainment (from a distance).

We finished the afternoon at Alpental (the much safer resort alternative) amongst the frozen trees. Not too bad...