Quick report
Traversed the Rae Wallace ridgeline from Sydney Creek to the Marmot Weather station. The day started out cold and clear with good views of Sydney Creek and across to Reed Lakes, but clouds rolled in and flattened the light and brought light snow by the early afternoon. We found mostly firm, easy travel with some slippery skinning where ski crampons were helpful. Cornices along the ridge were small and generally not overhung, due to the lack of snow and recent prevailing northerlies. We made a few transitions between skinning and booting while climbing the ridge, but managed to keep our skis on for the majority of the traverse. We were able to trigger a few small, shallow loose dry sluffs on steeper slopes at mid and upper elevations. These ran on both old firm bed surfaces and loose soft facets.
We found soft snow on protected, low-angle, mid-elevation slopes. Despite the flat light and some lingering wind-affected snow higher on the hill, turns were manageable higher on the hill.
Might have heard one collapse and had some small, shallow, isolated cracking in small drifts along the ridge. Was able to get a couple of small, shallow loose sluffs running on steeper slopes at mid and upper elevations.Weather
- Air Temp
- 5
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 2
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
The day started cold and clear, with only the remnants of some military jet's contrails in the sky. Temperatures remained in the single digits with light and variable winds as the skies became overcast and obscured due to low clouds. Light snow picked up in the afternoon as we made our descent.
Snowpack
Only surface observations today. Traveled on mostly east and southeast aspects along the ridge from about 3000' to 4500'. Found mostly firm travel with some softer snow to be found on lower-angle, protected slopes at mid elevations. Encountered some areas with old, firm wind slabs that made for slippery skinning but easy front pointing. When bootpacking, the occasional punchy wallow reminded us that the stout mid-pack has its edges, and is hiding weak faceted snow below.
Along the ridge, cornices were small and not really overhung, due to the prevailing northerlies and overall lack of snow.
Was able to initiate a couple of small, shallow, loose dry sluffs in steep terrain at mid and upper elevations. These ran on both a firm bed surface and soft, faceted snow.