HSR

Arrived at the start of the skin track around 9 a.m. and began heading up before 9:30. It was a cold morning with no wind. The snow quality was good with no signs of instability. From the roadside up through the trees to about 2400 m, the snow didn’t seem too wind-affected. Near the top of the lower ridge, there were some bare spots, wind effect, and a fair amount of rock exposure. The south side valley around Hector South Ridge looked wind-affected and wind-loaded, though there appears to be enough snow, it just might be a bit unstable. Still plenty of soft, untracked snow to enjoy out there. Stay safe and have a great New Year Everyone!