Elizabeth Parker Hut

Quick report

Weather

cloudy, windy

Ride Type

mellowSlopes, alpineSlopes

Stayed Away

steepSlopes

Riding Quality

terrible

Snow Conditions

powder, windAffected

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionSound

Spent three days at EP Hut, Dec 7-9. Found a marginal thin snowpack with 30-50cm with over effectively no base. Early season hazards were abundant and required caution. We made a good effort at Mt Schäffer by the SW Slopes/Ridge, bailing ~60m below the summit to highly reactive wind-loaded pockets. Small avalanches with high consequences in exposed terrain were front of mind, and blocked us from accessing easier terrain to the summit. Mainly cloudy over the three days with moderate winds in the alpine. About 5-10cm of snow over our stay. Daytime temps up to about -10, -15 overnight. One significant (Size 2+?) recent slab avalanche noted on high E facing slopes of Little Odaray.