Grouse Gap

Quick report

Left Grouse Gap Sno-Park behind Mt. Ashland ski area at 845a on cross country skis. Car thermometer read 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Clear blue skis and a light wind. The entire uphill to the split to the summit road was freshly groomed, but quite icy with a lot of backsliding. Paradoxically, some of the groomed corduroy in the shade was the softest snow, as it hasn't been through a freeze thaw cycle. Snow off of the 20 road was very hard, with an unbreakable crust. We tried to stick the ends of our skis in the snow and they only penetrated about 4 inches deep. The rest of the 20 road to Grouse Gap is ungroomed but plowed. At 10a it was still very icy; we decided to walk instead of use skis. Some patches of ground are visible under the curve downslope from Rabbit Ears. The major issues aren't snow stability, but rather iciness. It's not slide-for-life conditions, but it's also right on the edge of possible with cross country skis, even with metal edges. I wouldn't hurry to get out of bed in the morning--let the snow warm up. At the same time, it's not warm enough for death cookies or other signs of thermal instability.