Lodge Run

Headed up to the Marmot weather station to try and troubleshoot the camera that hadn't sent a photo in a couple of days. Ascending the south ridge of Marmot was a mixed bag of old, firm wind slab, scoured summer surface, and the occasional area of sun crust or newer wind skin. Generally pretty trashy but there were a few parties out enjoying the views and making the best of it. Along the ridgeline and at the weather station the wind had a little more bite to it helping cool off after the hike. I watched a party navigate the last couloir closest to the Lodge Run on the Rae Wallace headwall and although variable conditions were reported they appeared to have a good time and everyone styled it. After successfully troubleshooting the camera and transitioning I took a hard right on the descent and poked my way into the Lodge Run. Some areas of new wind deposit were easily triggered by ski cuts, each of these was about 1-3'' deep and about 10' wide. These new wind slabs were generally small and inconsequential but good bullseye data for what to expect when dropping into steep terrain at upper elevations with a firm old snow surface. Once in the Lodge Run proper I kept it pretty conservative and stuck to the shallower aspects. Despite the entire path having naturally avalanched during the extensive natural cycle in late January, coverage was good enough to thread my way through the lower choke. Flat light and old debris got the better of me on my gliding traverse back to the Fishhook Lot and a quick summersault had me searching for my sunglasses for a second before returning to the Fishhook lot. Big dreams, flat light. 

Observed some thin, shallow, isolated wind slabs on north and west facing aspects along ridgelines at mid and upper elevations. Windward terrain on the hike up Marmot ridge was scoured and firm with a mix of wind and sun crusts and old, firm surfaces. Sheltered terrain held a bit more soft snow.