Connaught and Lookout Slidepaths

<p>3-5 cm of new snow over a thin breakable rain crust that disappeared at 1250m. Above that was 30 cm ski penetration in average but up to 40cm in very sheltered locations. Boot penetration was 50cm at 1600m. From about 1400m we started noticing pockets of buried windslabs on the immediate lees from Wednesday morning's strong to extreme south wind. A few hasty hand shear tests produced easy results down 20cm below the buried windslabs and easy to moderate sudden planar results down 40cm on the Jan 10 surface hoar. The upper Connaught Slidepath had avalanched SZ 2.5 during the last storm with debris mostly stopping on the bench at 1600m but some reaching down to 1500m.The Connaught Slidepath skied really well from 1600m along the skiers right trim line (sheltered). We went back up and pushed to 1900m on the treed shoulder separating Connaught and Lookout Slidepath. The 40cm of storm snow was definitely much denser above 1750m in the sparse open trees and buried windslabs became more widespread until we reached our high point at 1900m. The ski down Lookout was good from 1900 to 1700m and great below 1700m where no wind affect could be felt.</p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes, Convex slopes, Steep slopes.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Open trees.

Snow Conditions

Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Cloudy, Sunny.