Quick report
Route map, pictures, and captions at: https://www.strava.com/activities/18149851735 https://www.strava.com/activities/18163431560 No signs of any snow instability, so this observation is all about the remaining snow cover for ski tour planning, with the major caveat that the upper elevations of the lines I skied have probably been refreshed somewhat since then while the lower elevations have probably taken a big beating on net. NE Snowfield is max ~650’ vert via the doglegs on either side, so typical for about a month later, but might still be that same length a month from now if we keep getting upper-elevation snowstorms like the one that started up shortly my second Strava activity. The traverse across the base of the East snowfield is fine, but not connected to the SE Snowfield. Since I had to take my skis off anyway, figured I’d start hiking up instead of across, and followed some ribbons up for ~500’ vert, which made for an even satisfying ski into the Bowl via Chute, also in fine shape … except for the rather prominent glide crack above the hourglass. Might get blown back in with fresh snow, although will probably emerge again quickly. Headwall seemed to have some skiable lines when I traversed up above it on my way to Chute, even without air, and although I do not test that perception, a few other skiers did (and successfully so). Right Gully was ~600’ vert and should continue as a somewhat short but fun line for a while. Left Gully was getting a little beat up on top from all the skier traffic, but the new snow should smooth it out nice. The snow along the traverse from the top of Left Gully to the top of Hillman’s was fractured into three separate pieces, so I walked the entire way. But might be skiable again – however briefly -- with the new snow. Both branches of Hillman’s were skiable from their respective tops. Skier’s left was getting a bit beat up from the skier traffic, although skier’s right was quite good even through the choke (which wasn’t much of a choke). Both should become even better with the new snow. Below their merger was gloriously wide and smooth at first, but lower down numerous holes and boulders were emerging, and will soon become rapidly worse. Still only a trivially short portage to the below-treeline exit trail, thanks to the not-so-trivial- debris pile from the March 26 avalanche (which came in from Dodge’s). Sherb was ~600’ vert of whacky adventure skiing Friday, then was blessedly put out of its misery by a complete USFS closure on Saturday. Please respect the closure and hike down the TRT from Hermit Lake. You aren’t doing the ski trail any good by hiking down the Sherb as further erosion will only further hurt its skiability in future seasons. And you won’t do yourself any good by trying to ski down it: even by my low standards, the Sherb on Friday when it was still open was more like skiing-enhanced hiking than what typically passes as skiing. (Even more amazingly, I had to inform some skiers who intended to branch off on the Boott Spur Link trail that no, this is a “trail that goes down mountain” as they had assumed.) The steep off-camber snow traverse of the LH summer route was arduous (if brief) work on Friday afternoon when I was the first one across it recently, but by Saturday afternoon the traverse was much more established, even if still demanding full attention. All of that is probably blown back in with fresh snow by now though.