Powderhouse

We skied 3 laps of the lower angle terrain west of the traditional skin track, starting around 7:15am. NNW 7700-9000ft. There was about 10cm of new snow at the base and up to 20cm above 8500ft. The new snow was wet and cohesive. Above 8500ft we observed cracking in the storm snow on the skin track and slab-like failure on test slopes. The test slopes appeared to fail on a density change within the new snow and the area was wind affected. We transitioned around 9000 ft and a shovel tilt slid on facets under the top crust below the new snow. Ridge winds inspired us to not top out and we observed blowing snow on the ridge. Blowing snow filled in the skin track in isolated areas. We were surprised to see this because of how heavy the snow on the ground felt and how little snow was falling from the sky. Light snow was falling at the car when we started, and the snow line moved up almost to 9000ft by 10:30am. Light rain was falling at the car when we left around 11. Trees dripping and increasingly thick, sticky snow under our skis suggested rising temperatures throughout the morning.

Quick report