We skied in the vicinity of Helen Lake today (Nov.23/16).
Elevation range: 1900-2400m
temp: low -10 high -2
winds: various directions not moving snow.
No new avalanches observed
Snowpack: Thin (~20cm) below treeline, becomes 50-60cm deep and nicely supportive at 2200m. 15-20cm of low density snow overlays the nov12th crust. Below 2200m this crust was more like the entirety of the lower snowpack was a frozen crust/mass. above 21-2200m it becomes a 'regular' 1-2cm thick crust with very well consolidated snow below. We skied SW, south, NE and east aspects and for the most part the snow above the nov12th crust was low density/no slab. Only in very isolated areas were slabs present (immediate lee of large tree islands and ridge crests).
We skied up to 40degrees and found no signs in instability, except for sluffing. a test profile at 2380m on a NE aspect showed a 60cm deep snowpack, 20cm over the nov12th crust and a 2nd crust down 30cm which produced clean shears. Well settled baselayers.

Great skiing once you get above 21-2200m

Neil Warren
ACMG Ski Guide