Sky Pilot (lower trees)

Dramatic ski and avy conditions this day with a huge storm layer of remarkably dry snow. Very touchy snowpack with major sluffing and minor slab runs everywhere. We felt the need to stay on very conservative terrain.

Uncharacteristically cold and dry for this particular zone at this elevation.

A huge volume of new, dry snow has fallen recently. A rigid ice/facet crust covers all aspects at this elev. New snow depth increases with openness, from 10cm in dense trees to 40cm in open trees, with lots of stashes much deeper. Hard to get the skis off the floor and into the pow. Fun but cautious skiing.

New snow generally unbonded to hard surface below creating a lot of movement on all aspects even below 30deg incline. Natural slides observed on all aspects on steeper features 1500m and above; some major sluff runs, some dry slabs with 30cm crowns 1-5m wide. Propagation appeared low.