High Rigger

Youngbloodben , Sunday 29th December, 2024 5:15PM

Went for a tour up the Southeast aspect of High Rigger today. Able to drive to 850m. Cut block at 950 m had enough snow to skin up if you look in the right places (where the wind has filled gullies). Found a nice draw right up to where the forest starts at 1100m. Above that snow levels rapidly accumulated. From 1100m-1200m snow was wetter and settled into a slab on top of a supportive crust. Above 1200m snow was dry and settled into a storm slab on top of a supportive crust. Made for easy and efficient travel up to ridge top. And some great turns back to the cut block. 10-20cm of snow on top of the crust depending on how sheltered it was from the wind. Weather was all over the place, starting with moderate winds gusting to strong out of the southwest, snow at S-1, and generally poor visibility. By noon the clouds cleared, snow stopped, and winds relaxed to light which made for a very pleasant descent. No avalanche observations, as visibility was limited while on top of the ridge. Some old pinwheeling here and there, no avalanche debris was encountered in any of the open areas we travelled through. No signs of instability in our travels. Great day out with pals and pups, and much better than expected turns! Cheers