Gusty Skilokis

Today we skied Skilokis to observe the state of the wind effect and boy did we find it. We observed an average snow pack depth of 130cm, the lowest snowpack we have found so far this season, likely due to being in the lee of the Hazelton ranges. Although it is the far reaches of the Bulkley Valley, the forest is Bulkley Valley all the same. We battled our way through tight trees and ice hard tree bombs up to 1400m where the tree bombs and melt freeze crust subsided. Reaching ridge top we found moderate gusting to strong winds from the SW with significant wind effect on all exposed terrain. Being the devision of two valleys this location sees varying winds as well as significant down slope flow on its NE face. Its not all doom and gloom as we found terrain unexposed to wind holding soft snow with 15cm ski pen.....until we were reunited with the tree bombs and tree skiing we all know to well.