Quick report
Toured from Hyak base up to the top of the chair to dig in the snow and practice placing pickets. Snow at the base was pitifully thin (0-2"). Continuous skiing is possible with careful route finding, but that may change with the weather; we found a way up in the morning entirely on snow but had to cross a short bit of exposed grass on the way down in the afternoon. Midslope snow depth was closer to 18" with a corn-like layer (large, rounded ice crystals) at the surface. At the summit of Mt Hyak, snow depth was 30-36" depending on location with a pronounced ice crust down about 12". The two problems for the day were of a non-avalanche nature, namely exposed vegetation and dog turds. Nonetheless, travel conditions up and down were enjoyable.