Quick report
Our group skinned up from the Crystal Base into the Bear Gap area. Conditions in some areas of the trees while skinning on the usual approach E of Henskin Lake met expectations set in the forecast — bulletproof textured ice from refrozen tree bombs and drippings. Elsewhere, conditions vastly exceeded expectations with wind-packed powder, sugar snow, and even some "loud pow" making for enjoyable skiing on N aspects (Super Bowl, Bear Gap Bowl). Widespread and rock-hard debris was present on steeper aspects but clearly visible above the snow and avoidable with careful skiing. Given that cornices were still present, the debris may have been snow dropped by trees. We briefly considered skinning up to Pickhandle Point but backed off when we encountered difficult travel conditions — hard, icy — on the ridgeline that runs NE above Bear Gap. There was significant wet-loose action visible on the W aspect of the W side of the Pickhandle cirque. (Along the PCT there.)