May 2, 2009, Granite Mtn

We got an early start, hoping to slip in a quick tour before the forecasted rain.  There is a pretty direct route after you hit the main gully.  We ascended the central throat of that main avalanche chute and then exited lookers left to the SW ridge.  Probably my most direct and safest boot-pack ascent yet, although a little *tiring*.  It was windy and snowing on the top.  We dropped in about 11 into the west bowl: a few mm of fresh snow on a pretty hard crust made the top section a bit icy dicey for my shot legs.  Then a couple hundred vert of beautiful pre-corn, and then downwards into the mush.  The snow stopped and it barely drizzled so actually it was fine and cooler temps may have helped the snow.  It was skiable to the decision point where you either have to cross west over the huge creek that drains the Granite/Granite West bowl, and descend it's west side to the Talapus trail, or trend east back around the front side (which we did).  We shortly intersected the bottom end of the SW ridge run and that looked decent; looks like a good long run from the top.  We even attempt to ski down into the woods but it was pretty bad.  Usual thrash:trail:car.