Deception Pass

On Saturday, Dec 16, we skied up the Lake Louise ski out (adequate coverage for skiing up and down, but certainly thin) and out the trail toward Skoki Lodge. The winter trail is in good condition, with enough coverage to avoid any rocks and bigger branches. There are are few willows poking through, but nothing hazardous. The track over Boulder Pass is windblown with some sand and small rocks, but avoidable on the way up and down. The track up to Deception Pass is good, and on the east side of the pass there is good snow in some dips and hollows to provide nice turns with no rocks. We saw no indication of avalanche hazards on the mellow leeward slopes of Deception Pass. The ice crust is still there in the snowpack, but wasn't creating any instability where we were skiing. It is still early season out there, but there is enough snow for a fun day out.