White Pass Powder

Mountain Conditions Report

<p>I can confirm great skiing at Fraser with 45 cm of recent low-density storm snow (F-4F). We didn't find any wind effect where we skied(up to 1750m), and although there was some recent surface riming, it didn't detract from the ski quuality.</p> <p>Travel at treeline remains challenging with a mainly unconsolidated snowpack, open creeks and partially buried alder.</p> <p>Transitioning to the alpine, we found a variable 10-20cm thick layer of firmer (1F) previously wind packed particles below the storm snow. A thin 2 cm layer of lower density (4F) decomposing fragments could be found sandwiched between this and the November crust, (down 60-80cm). This layer failed with a sudden planar character under moderate results in compression tests but did not show propogation propensity in an extended colomn test (1500m, E aspect). We didn't encounter whumping or any other signs of buried instablity. </p> <p>Even though we didn't find any wind effect, our primary concern for the day was the potential for isolated, small pockets of soft windslab in cross-loaded features and so we stuck to larger planar terrain features.</p> <p>Definitely, the best early season turns I've had in the White Pass.</p>