Goat Peak NW Couloir

Quick report

Beyond Our Peak · Dec 5, 2020 · Long Range Mountains

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Quick report

Weather
warm, sunny
Ride Type
alpineSlopes, steepSlopes, openTrees
Stayed Away
sunnySlopes
Riding Quality
Good
Snow Conditions
crusty, windAffected, powder
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionTemp

Rode a couloir from the Goat Peak NE ridge. Travel to Goat Peak was steaming. Already so hot at 9AM, blame the temp inversion. Icy, wind-blasted crust on exposed ridge to Highway Bowl. Good snow in shaded aspects. Bring ski crampons. 24-48hr old dry loose everywhere on southerly aspects. Dropped into Highway Bowl from a NW gully before the peak. As usual, the ridge around the bowl is heavily corniced. Observed 10cm 4F wind slabs in the upper bowl. Not reactive at all after repeatedly ski cutting the slope. Seems like the wind slabs are breaking down. Wind-affected snow all the way down to 1900m. Booted up a NW couloir on the Goat Peak NE ridge. Wind packed powder to 5-10cm wind slabs down low, thin faceted snowpack near the ridge crest. 20-30cm of powder over a firm base below 1900m. 10-20mm widespread SH.