Ramp Peak

Skied Ramp Peak on Friday. There’s a good track leading up from the road to the bowl above Mosquito Creek Campground, so travel was fast. On the alpine slopes of the peak the snow was very wind hardened, leading us to bootpack the last 200m. Ski crampons would help immensely. There was evidence of the large avy cycle. The N aspect of Noseeum slide but didn’t reach the skin track. Picture included. Noticed older wet slides across the valley on the west side of the highway. Pinwheels as the sun came out and snowpack warmed. The snow was variable. On west aspects there was a melt crust forming within open trees, and heavy wind effect on anything above the tree line. NE aspects and sheltered areas were great, with roughly 10-15cm of unconsolidated powder sitting atop a firm snowpack. Snow on the peak was very variable; pockets of powder mixed with concrete hard patches of icy snow. Dug a pit at 2500m on a NW aspect before heading up to the alpine slopes. Snowpack was 220cm; 10cm of powder on top of 1 finger snow. Snowpack showed facets at the base, but was very consolidated throughout. ECTX CTN Weather was overcast and windy throughout the morning, but the sun came out on the descent. The sun affected the snow immediately, with rollers appearing on many steep slopes. We rode the drainage out, where the was many pinwheels and evidence of past avalanches on solar aspects. The skin track was wet and sticky on the way back as the day continued to warm and the sun was shining. Overall a decent day. Not sure if the skiing was worth the slog, but great views. The summit registry has joints, a lighter, and a butt plug; so something for everyone. Better get up there while they’re still there (if they are still there).