Lily-Dome (so hot right now)

Inspired by recent reports of circus-like crowds and not blower pow, our group of 4 headed for the dome traverse. Debris up loop brook made for slow travel, including an annoying boot pack around the corner to and up the elephants truck. Slow travel continued, and made for a slog of a day. Temps were warm and sweaty valley bottom. Around 11am the wind picked up and the clouds moved in. Never socked in, but very grey and the light was quite flat - not ideal. This made travel up to and over the lily glacier disorienting. We chose to rope up. Skiing down the dome side was also quite flat and tricky until maybe 2200-2000m. We noted pockets of wind affect and wind slab in the trough below the lily glacier, and in localized spots under the rolls/benches on the glacier. Wind seemed to be blowing down the lily and from the east-ish over the dome col/ramparts. There was a thinner unreactive wind slab on the bootpack to the col on the west side. One other party of 4 joined us at the top as well. 2600-2400m: wind affected/slabby and flat light, difficult skiing 2400-2000m: good, light snow, flat but improving light 1900m to valley bottom: progressively heavier mashed potatoes on crust, lots of work