Public Observation

Observation Details

Observations

Did a quick tour up to about 10,000’ to see what conditions were like in Elderberry.

Started out around 8am. Hiking on dirt for about 1 mile and 1000 vertical feet from the last switchback to gain snow in the gully. From there it was pleasant skinning (with ski crampons mandatory) up supportable snow.

Stopped at ~10k a bit below the final bench before the head wall. Boot pen was about 3 cm on wind board up there, above my boot top on the unsupportable textured areas. No signs of significant wet loose slides at any elevations up there. I wasn’t triggering any pinwheels or roller balls on my way up or down.

Coming down at 11 was just about right as I was able to link patches of wind board which held some nice corn turns separated by short sections of unsupportable super 3-dimensional survival skiing.

Signs of Unstable Snow