Goat Peak NW Couloir

<p>Rode a couloir from the Goat Peak NE ridge. Travel to Goat Peak was steaming. Already so hot at 9AM, blame the temp inversion. Icy, wind-blasted crust on exposed ridge to Highway Bowl. Good snow in shaded aspects. Bring ski crampons. 24-48hr old dry loose everywhere on southerly aspects. Dropped into Highway Bowl from a NW gully before the peak. As usual, the ridge around the bowl is heavily corniced. Observed 10cm 4F wind slabs in the upper bowl. Not reactive at all after repeatedly ski cutting the slope. Seems like the wind slabs are breaking down. Wind-affected snow all the way down to 1900m. Booted up a NW couloir on the Goat Peak NE ridge. Wind packed powder to 5-10cm wind slabs down low, thin faceted snowpack near the ridge crest. 20-30cm of powder over a firm base below 1900m. 10-20mm widespread SH.</p>

Terrain Ridden

Alpine slopes, Steep slopes, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Sunny slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Warm, Sunny.