Vail & Summit County
SnowpackJon Lowe · May 6, 2011 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
cool and not that windy until after sunrise, some high clouds, always some blowing snow somewhere
Snowpack
My usual skinning route too firm for comfortable skinning on steep and exposed areas above treeline (E aspect). Boot packing felt safe, but slow before 9 AM. Ankle deep breakable was horrible skiing on E and S aspect early. Not corn yet. Did not seem like a good idea to wait for it to soften up as it was a decent lot of immature corn/storm slab that seemed like it would rip out when warm as opposed to a benign melt freeze surface. Some weird windblown cream still on N aspect intermittently. Not time for crampons just yet.