Vicuña matata

Did a long day of ski-mo with Lytton. Parked at Zopkios parking area, went up and down the the saddle east of Zupjok, across the valley to Vicuña/Guanaco col, and back the same way. -2 C when we started at 5:45 am from parking lot. Heavy crème brûlée snow on the way up and down the saddle. Skiing down the saddle was icy and did not break the crust while skiing. Fun times. Saddle at approx 1520m As the sunny day progressed, snow slowly became more wet. By the time we reached the uphill of the col, snow was wet and felt like spring corn. Small size 1, wet loose avalanches were witnessed off the south face of Vicuña around 1300 but no other signs of instability were witnessed. Climbing from the col at 1900m to the peak around 2150m was packed powder. Small cornices on north/leeward side looked intact. Skiing would be good if it wasn’t mostly rock on the NE ridge. Skiing down around 1530, very good spring corn on alpine slopes very few people have hit. Lots of fun. Saw a size 1.5 avalanche on the east face of alpaca at this time off another slabby face. Ski descent was finished at valley bottom, 1250m, around 1730. Conditions devolved to mashed potato and crust in sun protected areas. Very mixed. But snow continued to be well consolidated. When we finally reached the saddle again, the north aspect was crusty and icy, difficult to skin up. Similar conditions to morning and we reached the saddle around 2100. Skiing down south side was bad skiing, constantly breaking through thick crust to hit wet loose snow underneath. Skin out was similar. Spring is here. Overall, higher elevations will have good powder, but lower elevations will be well consolidated, wet, and possibly crusty from overnight freeze.