Windy Mount Green

Went to ski the ross peak path from the summit of Mount Green. Very large surface hoar present at treeline, up to 4 cm. Observed strong SW winds blowing snow off cornices from Parsons Peak and sending light spindrift down the cliffs below Mount Green. This gave us pause, but we realized the only snow available for transport was the surface hoar, which would not be cohesive enough to form wind slabs. The ascent up Ross Pass was fairly full on, with a boulder problem to start (pictured), and a section higher up where unsupportive facets covered slabby choss. Bring steel toed crampons and a good ice axe. Wind on the ridge was strong enough to knock me off balance at times with my skis a-framed. As expected, no wind slab development was noted on the north face. The crux (pictured) was easily dispatched on the NE ridge to gain the main path. The exposure on this move is real, but it only requires one turn and is not too steep and sufficiently filled in. The snow in the alpine was a mixture of soft wind pressed snow and zipper crust. Below treeline, it gave away to unusual heavy snow made soft by surface hoar.