Quartz Ridge & Hill

Quick report

Weather

cloudy, sunny, warm

Ride Type

mellowSlopes, openTrees

Stayed Away

alpineSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

powder, windAffected

We skied to Quartz Ridge and Hill Sat Dec 21. The meadows: nice powdery snow, ankle-to-midcalf ski pen. Quartz ridge: barely had any snow (20 cm max?), and whatever was there was very wind-affected. Quart hill: Given the considerable hazard, we ruled out skiing the NE face even before we got there. We dropped the skies at the base of the ridge to Quartz Hill. The ridge had decent amount of snow, all facets. The navel-deep wallowing made for slow progress. The flatter spots on the ridge was still around knee deep. No signs of slabs, crusts, or any layering whatsoever (it was all facets). We saw no signs of instability, so maybe the NE face would have been fine? Oh well... On the way down from the Hill/Ridge col we skied across the slopes below Quartz Ridge to avoid regaining the summit, again no sign of instability, facets, and rocks. Cool clouds socked in the Simpson River valley, which looked cool.