Quick report
Overall, only about a week ahead of schedule, with a typical pattern for the final remains, so a strong reversion toward the mean. Pictures and color commentary at: https://www.strava.com/activities/14461310295 Details on what was left, with vert measured in Caltopo from downloaded gpx file: Sluice, remains thereof, ~425’ vert, and refreshingly hazard-free, although everything on that side of the Bowl could start developing cracks / holes / moulins / moats soon. Chute ~545’ vert sans major hazards, and skiable from far higher depending on the desired adventure level. Left Gully ~890’ vert, with a solid connection at the base to the rest of the Bowl. The final ~20’ vert of the bootpack was impressively steep, though well-trenched (to such an extent that I didn’t bother with boot crampons, either there or elsewhere, though I liked having my BD Alpine Whippet just in case). The top ~50’ of the ski descent was both extremely steep and oddly shaped from all the intense skier traffic, with moguls that are … probably best just cautiously traversed rather than zipper-line skied? The casual contour from the top of Left Gully over to Hillman’s had some snow, but the biggest snowfield is bifurcated, so wasn’t worth putting skis back on, though still helped smooth out the hike. Hillman’s skier’s left fork was pretty much full length, although some twists and turns around various obstacles and hazards, then a mandatory hard right at the fork to skirt a dangerously open water hole. Hillmans skier’s right fork at ~1,250’ was definitely ROTD, despite the lack of skier traffic (and quite likely b/c of that lack of skier traffic). I skipped the top ~25’ since the traverse over there didn’t register favorable on the WorthItMeter (TM). Then ~50’ below where I started skiing required either some cautious sidestepping or a considerably less cautious straightline. But after that, skier’s right was solid with no apparent weaknesses. Far down below the split, various weaknesses are emerging, but even those might survive the upcoming rains as a viable descent route returning from the Bowl. NE Snowfield looked like skier’s right dogleg will still be good when the summit road reopens for the weekend, so maybe … ~500’ vert? Skier’s left dogleg looked like it was about to disappear. Center sans dogleg … ~350’ vert? Airplane Gully was of course not visible, but based on Left Gully and Hillman’s, should still be nearly full length. Hermit Lake water pump was cold and tasty as always! Summit toilets are already open. TRT down from Hermit Lake had some significant snow stretches on the top ~1/4 that helped smooth out the ~1,900’ vert downhike to PNVC. (Add another ~500’ of far greater pitch if hiking down instead from the Bowl.)