Not really a surprise….

Ewen Clark , Saturday 18th January, 2025 5:15PM

Did surprise pass loop today. Very cold at valley bottom but bearable up high. A couple of old slides visible off Fairview, one crossing regular approach one not travelling far enough. At least two days old. No new avalanches noted. Wind effect wide spread creating hollow slabs over facets in valley bottom and pencil hard slabs (with even some knife hard spots) on steeper terrain around and approaching Surprise Pass. Boot pack necessary but in good shape. I don’t think even ski crampons would save you. Ski down was in terrible shape with very hard wind effected snow right down to the trees. Coverage was decent (because the snow is so hard) but overall snowpack very thin and weak. Once in the boulder field snowpack was completely unsupportive off previous tracks. Of note some people skied south facing lines off the Col/final gully off Fairview your cross before ripping skins for the short descent to valley bottom. Skiing looked much better/softer than Surprise Pass but still significant wind effect and a thin snowpack.