South Dore valley

Claggy and cold out there. Alpine was obscured most of the day. Dec. 9th rain crust is supportive up to 1600m and breakable from there up to 1850m, where it tapers off. Where breakable, its thickness is variable with changes of aspect. At treeline and above, riding is fast and silky on old wind slabs and trace new snow.

Height of snow at treeline is 115cm-150cm, depending on aspect and terrain feature. Moraines on ascent to the glacier had highly variable snow depths with multiple layers of sugary snow between the layers that make up the November rain crust. Tests CTVE sudden collapse down 80cm at ground on facets 2mm. CTM 17 sudden collapse down 40cm on 2mm facets above the November crust.