The Galleon

<p>Did a solo ski up to the summit of The Galleon. SW winds were strong once they ramped up to the ridge tops and snow was transporting rapidly and loading lee aspects. The approach to The Galleon had the wind at my back the whole way except for the final approach to the summit in which the wind was loading the broad gradual ramp (lee of the summit ridge) with lots of snow. The spindrift swirling around mixed with a cloud ceiling just above the summit made a dramatic backdrop to great panaramic views in all directions. Lots of options to choose terrain that was safer on the way up and that linked up lots of powder turns throughout the sheltered parts of the basin for the way down. There was a supportive crust and/or wind slab in spots, with lots of powder in the sheltered places. No shooting cracks or whumpfing at any time of my day. The wind made some mighty impressive shapes around those massive boulders in the basin. Witnessed a size 3 avalanche coming off of the steep cliffs of Mt. Lagopus around noon, by then I was passed the exposed flat part of the basin and was watching it from above. If someone had happened to be travelling on the west side of the basin at the time of the slide, their heart would have skipped a beat, though it did not quite run full path--but some of the wheeling chunks of ice came careening to almost full path. What a great trip with a spectacular approach! </p>

Terrain Ridden

Alpine slopes, Mellow slopes, Dense trees, Steep slopes, Sunny slopes, Open trees.

Avalanche Conditions

30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

Snow Conditions

Hard, Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Windy, Cloudy, Sunny.