Snow Peak

Snow Peak, April 26, 2025. Had perfect melt/freeze conditions on Snow Peak today, thankfully timed it right this time. I attempted it early May many years ago and triggered a fresh windslab avalanche near the summit, today was much more "as expected". Started at 6am and had an excellent freeze all the way up. We decided on boot crampons straight up the face instead of side-hilling with ski crampons or post holing on foot and avoiding the cornices on the ridge, it was the right choice. The snow softened during the rapid warming at 10am and provided excellent corn snow for the descent, could ski wide open. The most surprising part of the day was that we only saw 1 other party of 3 XC skiers, nobody else. I believe some folks did the FHR but we didn't encounter anyone. We took the shortcut steep line from the pass down to the flats and it worked out well, although the moist surface was beginning to wet slide on the E steep east aspects. Returned to the car at 12:30 and it was full nuclear by that time with natural slides happening all over. Highly recommended during melt/freeze conditions like today and yesterday. 19.5 KM 975m gain in 6.5 hours.