North Ghost Christmas week

<p>Few bits I found interesting in the North Ghost generally from four recent rips in there: -Overall ice conditions are good, but surprisingly wet on many routes due to the recent warm temps -Generally the above treeline snowpack is really windblown to bare and not a major concern, but there were a lot of pockets of windslab that were very reactive down low in the gullies, as well as some extensive whumpfing. I would be concerned if getting out onto the bigger snow patches/sides of gullies, mid-route pockets, or with new snow/wind loading. -The warm spell didn't really "fix" the facet disaster as much I hoped it would. Still all the facets you ever wanted in the Ghost. HS in the valleys ranges greatly but about 20cms in the trees, deeper deposition zones. -This House of Sky has some terrain traps, especially near the start, that have some bigger than I expected slab debris in them. Chilkoot was less exposed than I was expecting, but same terrain traps there too if you go past Chilkoot toward Haines (and some neat small ice features up there too). Thin rain crust in some areas too. The Ghost is generally lower avalanche hazard, except when it isn't... -You can still drive across a well-frozen bridge about 150M below the Wully crossing, which is an ice ledge disaster zone. The ledges go with 33" studded tires or full send mode below that, but metal has been bent there recently. Trapper's Hill is icy. Fine with studs or chains, but a lot of sports action there lately too. -There's a truck-eating rock on the short, steep climb out after the last river crossing before Claw Creek (back end). This rock has bitten three trucks I know of know, you climb up onto it then get yeeted sideways on the slick ice, boom. Krave is good at welding bits back together. There's a bypass about 50M up the creekbed, OK in a double cab long box Tacoma on 33s but skid plates nice. Happy New Year!</p>

Avalanche Conditions

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Weather Conditions

Cold.