Quick report
Today I skied three different lines en' route to Treasure Bowl (four descents total), ranging from steep north facing trees to open east facing slopes above 9K and had favorable powder conditions with no instabilities. The last lap was down the bowl itself, where I peacefully ski cut a predictable 2 inch thick wind slab right off the top, maybe 40 feet wide, that ran about 500 feet, R2D1. Approaching the unsupported rollover/traverse above the crux cliff-band there was obvious signs of loading - stiff bulging snow. One kick while holding onto a strong pine easily fractured the slope about 8 inches deep, 30 feet wide, sending it cascading over the 70 foot cliff below without additional propagation on the lower slope, R1D2. While exiting tight and steep north facing trees below 8.4K snow was getting saturated from ambient warmth and sloughing off the old bed surface easily. I felt relatively comfortable managing this hazard with slow speeds and good visibility. Overall the bowl skied well and soft. W-SW wind was picking up on the last hour or two of my tour, and visibly carrying snow a good distance off the N-S ridgeline. Slough running easily in North Woods (steep north facing trees). Two wind slabs between 10.3K and 9.5K in Treasure Bowl, relatively small, point release, quick to fracture and easy to spot. Wet slab potential below 8.4K, even in the tightest of north facing trees. 45 degrees (F) and sun in parking lot
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- moderate