soft top, crusty bottom

<p>Rode the Iago north bowl. New snow up top was roughly 15cms, the bowl was spared from a crust forming during the recent warm up. Overall riding conditions there were quite good. The wind was unexpectedly coming from northwest and was quite gusty near the ridge, so the upper bowl was slightly windpressed but not too bad. Snow quality around 1500m changes and became fairly wet quite quickly. Not enough new snow below 1500m to cover the crust. No signs of avalanches on the day or with the new snow. Wet avalanches are clear among steeps beneath trees or cliffs from the recent warm weather. A couple of hand shears on north aspects around 1600m did not fail so the upper 40cms or so seemed well bonded. Some cracking but only underfoot, no shooting cracks. </p>

Weather Report

<p>Broken clouds to overcast at times with periods of moderate snowfall and graupel. Ridge winds were rather gusty. Calm weather lower down, some lighter snow accumulations, around 5cms vs 15cms up top. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes, Open trees, Steep slopes.

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Heavy, Powder, Wind affected.