Quick report
The observation goals for this summit run day were to get a good look at Burt from the Cog and also ski some of Burt while still being able to traverse back to the Cog. Unfortunately, neither of those goals were met, both of them because of the visibility. I caught only a brief glimpse (just a few seconds!) of Burt on my ascent, and then a longer glimpse on the descent, but the Burt picture that I posted here: https://www.strava.com/activities/11128409638 … does not fully convey my impression that Burt is about as “in” now as it ever has been since 2010. The compare/contrast though with the snow along the Cog compared to mid-day the prior day was interesting: - The previously buffed-out skintrack below Waumbek Switch now had an inch or so of snow in it, and in general the ascender’s left of the Cog had a slightly smoothed-over look, with surprisingly high winds at the lower elevations. - The Utility Line had been all cut-up powder by mid-day the prior day, but was now slightly scoured on ascender’s right and smooth deep windslab on ascender’s left. - Up above Jacob’s Ladder, I cut under the trestle and stayed on ascender’s right of the Cog, which had about as much snow as it ever does. - For the descent, the snow quality up high was quite pleasant (even though the skiing was cautious, given the zero-contrast visibility), which perhaps could be available for transport with additional winds (including but not limited to the 46mph gust recorded by the Obs when I was at the summit, ugh!). - The windslab on the Utility Line skied beautifully, even on 88mm waist skis. - After that, the Cog skier’s left had been transformed from cut-up powder by mid-day the prior day to extensive and smooth wind buff, also skiing beautifully (in addition to just looking beautiful).