North couloirs

drew.lyness , Monday 25th March, 2024 1:10AM

Long tour, saw lots of terrain. Skied a steep north facing couloir off Cleveland. Decent turns, no stability concerns but it would not have been the day to take any tumble in slick conditions. Ski crampons & axe very necessary. Despite the sun and clear skies, a cold north breeze ensured negligible surface warming above 1200. Solar aspects are hard, debris ridden & unappealing. Found chalky recycled pow on north aspects which skied very well. All in all variable / hard surfaces with no real corn cycle on Saturday - tricky travel over icy crusty surfaces and some hazard from weak,rotten old isothermal snow overlaying creeks and holes down low.