Jan 25 frog lake

I started from the frog lake snow park, and after distancing myself from the sleds, and dogs I had a nice tour up the butte road.  As i ascended I was thinking this would be the highlight of the trip, expecting bullet proof ice with 3-4 of new fluff on top for the descents.   As i broke out of the trees I began to notice a  breakable crust under the new...Hmm.  I have started to use the word "challenging"recently to describe some of the conditions I have encountered, in lieu of my pet 4 letter words.  I expected nothing less than to be challenged, only to find very nice conditions in the glades, with the 3-4 of new on top of a layer of facets that ranged from 2-6 inches in depth, and very little of the crust I had seen on the ascent.  Good for today, but I will be watching as new accumulates on this layer.  I was much happy to not be "challenged", that I did 2 more laps, before packing it in.