Fraser Peak & Fraser Chutes

Skied up the East ridge of Fraser Peak to around 1800m, as well as some laps in Fraser Chutes. Significant wind scouring and wind pressed snow on SE aspect of Fraser Peak, and wind loading on NE aspect. Cross loading in upper Fraser Chutes. In general wind effect was highly variable. Frequent hand shears revealed 1F (dense) recent wind slabs 20-40cm deep overlying 4F (less dense) snow. These were resistant planar in nature. Shooting cracks were only encountered in areas where recent winds had built 5-10cm stiffer slabs on top of low density powder. We avoided most wind loaded terrain though, and more reactive wind slabs are probably out there given our obs. A size 3 slab avalanche had recently run (likely within the past 72 hours) off the steep, rocky, wind loaded area on the NE aspect of Fraser around 1700m, just west of Big Kahuna. No other recent avalanches observed. There is little wind effect at treeline with positively glorious skiing found in Fraser Chutes. Height of snow is 79 at highway. Winds were light and variable from the NE and SE. Valley fog was 950-1350m with super high humidity. Puffy jackets got soaked as we skied Fraser chutes! Skies were broken throughout the day. Temps in the range of -5 to -6 degrees.