Ch-paa-qn Peak
Quick report
Had been wanting to tour Ch-paa-qn since it's visible from my house and figured the morning of graduation would be a fun way to get it done. Headed up early and found snow on the road at 6,200', skinned the remaining two miles to the trailhead over discontinuous snow. From the trailhead it was continuous all the way to the summit ridge, which was melted out completely on the southern face and w cliffs exposed on the n face. I stashed my skis at around 7,800' and booted the talus to the summit. According to my weather app the low was 38 degrees up at the summit last night and it showed. Travel conditions were sloppy and unpleasant on the way up (no refreeze, only slightly firm) and worse on the descent. The few times I had to boot through snow I was punching through to my knees or worse. The snow is basically full depth mush. I'm writing this not because I think anyone else wants to do Ch-paa-qn but because the road on Lolo Peak is about to open and I figured people might like an update. I was considering making a go this Tuesday morning but the forecast is suggesting the low at the summit will be 40 and that means it'll be even worse than I found today. Hopefully things cool down soon so our snowpack can actually transition out of the megamush... All told, fun morning out. I see why folks don't do Ch-paa-qn much, though the north slopes could be fun in good conditions (with a huge approach though)...
Avalanche
Saw loose wet avalanche debris on the n slopes of Ch-paa-qn, the only steeper terrain visible from the route.