Ursus Minor Ridge

<p>Went up Ursus Minor Ridge. Snowpack at 2400 m around 280-300cm on the ridge. Skis penetrated snow between 15-25 cm on the way up. Strong solar heated up surface snow and made it sticky. We saw quite a lot of dry loose up to size two on all aspects on steep open terrain. A small cornice-fall off Hospital Knob must've occurred today or after the snowfall yesterday and buried a fresh skin track leading to Bruins Ridge. At the top of Ursus Minor Ridge, two snow profiles, one south-facing, one southeast-facing, showed moderate CT results (tap 14/16) on the top 25 cm of fresh snow and the southeast facing one fractured at tap 16 about 50 cm deep (bottom of the buried windslab). Snow was soft on top 25, very hard on 25-50 (photo between pen and credit card), then softer again deeper down till 75cm. Temperatures were rising quickly over the day with light winds from southwest coming over Balu Pass. Skiing/Riding was still fun, though the suncrust got more prominent in the Ursus Trees. Hospital gully still had deeper, cold powder.</p>

Terrain Ridden

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

Terrain Avoided

Steep slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

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

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

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Heavy, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Warm, Sunny.