Cayoosh / Marriot

Spent a few days circumnavigating the Marriot / Cayoosh area between 1600-2300m elevation band. Traveled on all aspects but the best ski quality was on N-NW-W aspects in sheltered alpine terrain. Plenty of wind effect and variable surfaces on polar aspects, but no reactivity observed in wind slabs formed during the last event. A few cm of low density snow covered a mixture of old wind slab and crust from treeline up. BTL snowpack was well consolidated and powder conditions. No whumpfs observed BTL, and no significant formation of surface hoar to report either at this elevation. Cold clear conditions throughout the three day period, -8 raising to -2 by the afternoon of Feb 21st. There were a few small convective flurries and a few cms of low density snow fell during the early part of this period. Aside from on solar aspects which we largely avoided, conditions were stable with good travel, variable ski quality, but some good powder turns in the right places.

Very little avalanche activity observed during 3 day period. Isolated solar slopes were releasing to size 1 - 1.5 on steep terrain - recent storm snow on S-SE aspects was very poorly bonded to a MF crust. Wind slabs 1F- 4F hardness on polar aspects were not reactive when cut on small convexities.

Stable weather period. From 19/2 - 21/2 temps remained consistent ~ -6 in the alpine - raising to -4 by pm on the 21st. There were some short-lived convective flurries during the period, accumulation 1-4cm, but enough to cover old wind-slabs around treeline. Winds calm -to light by pm on the 21st.