Black Tusk and Panorama

Spent 31st and 1st in the area. Went in thinking conditions would be terrible but were greatly surprised. Switchbacks are dry until 5km in from parking lot, patchy with icy spots after, skinnable at 6.5km. Dec30th night saw some wet snow precipitation that cooled down into the morning. We skied low angle South facing slopes off the Tusk, where snow was wet and crusty initially but turned into supportive crust with ~10 cm of fresh above 1900m. Best snow above 1900m but with the sun it became progressively heavier by end of the day. A few crusts noticeable under the top rain crust. A couple naturals to sz 1.5 on steep South aspects. Snow moistened during the day and became heavy below 1800m. Jan 1st was bluebird, no cloud covert overnight. Cold temperatures. We headed to North ridge of Panorama where we found thick supportive crust with 10 cm of fresh low density from the Dec 31st overnight snow. Not bonding very well to crust. Surface hoar was evident. Skiied really well on low angle.