McDermott New Years Report

Dec 30th to Jan 2nd at McDermott: Clear skies and mostly warm temps the whole trip. Low clouds in valley bottoms around the McDermott drainage most days. Colder mornings and daytime temps around -5C. Minimal winds Dec 31 and Jan 1, even at ridge top. Wind at ridge top Dec 30 and Jan 2. Small slabs had released on very steep N+NE aspects Dec 30/31. We skied Mercury Bowl and the bowl to the E in Mercury Draninage. As well as the Planetary Bowl and Planetary trees(?) above the cabin. One exploratory tree run S of the cabin between the N facing slide paths. Noticed a buried crust on most aspects at and below tree line, but not noticeable during the descent. Excellent, fast, supportive ~25-35cm snow on top of the crust. No instabilities observed. Surface hoar developed during the 3 days of clear skies and minimal winds. Observed on almost all aspects, even in tighter trees. Steeper solar aspects developed sun crust mid-trip, not thick enough to have a bad time. Jan 2nd, storm arrived. ~8cm of new snow overnight and throughout morning. Winds picked up at higher elevations. Skied south and north aspects. Wind scouring on Cornice Ridge (south side), light sloughing in steeper trees. North run on opposite side of the McD valley was excellent skiing (more accumulation), though on the ascent we found that the new snow was eager to slide on more open slopes with hard surfaces (previously hit by high winds). Not an issue in the trees, though!