November 11, 2003, Pair-o-dice

Gate opened at 10 a.m. Nervous weather, ominous clouds; snow about 12-18 inches deep, wet, icy, powder, etc.  Climbed to pan pt. but the clouds looked so threatening we climbed down again, skied thru Edith Basin down to the bridge, traversed around the sidehill on the trail over to the bridge across the Pardise R., climbed Mazama, to the back bowl--too little snow there to ski, then down to the road and back to Paradise.  Nice WINTER tour--had my Marmot parka and hood on for the 1st time in years. Some good packed powder to be had in between ice crusts and breakable crusts.  Too little snow yet at lower elevations--too many trees, rocks, etc. but we have a good base now; hope for more snow this week. abc