Ridgeline Rambling

Went for a poke above Crater lake today to gain observations and "build some character" We lucked into an inversion and calm winds until noon when moderate winds from the South West and light snow met us at 2300M. Firm snow surfaces greeted us in the form of breakable crust below tree line transitioning into widespread hard sustrugi over the prairie and elevated further more into rimed sustrugi at ridge top. These conditions led to 1 broken ski crampon and two field techs with freshly topped up character.