515 by snowrider1034, on Flickr
The hike in was not bad. We had the best of both worlds. Just enough snow to seem bottom less and not so much to make hiking any harder than it had to be.

524 by snowrider1034, on Flickr

528 by snowrider1034, on Flickr
These photos where taken above the ridge lakes in Lassen National Park. Any where between 6 to 12 inches of cold dry snow had fallen. The rain crust was still noticeable on some turns but easily forgotten on the next. Any where the wind could move the snow it did. Ridge lines were wind buffed or icy. Stability was not a factor in or around ridge lakes,