March 10-11, 2004, Jolly Mtn.

Again this winter I'm ski camping on Sasse Ridge 2 or 3 days every week, but this year somehow I have found one excuse or another for not yet skiing to the top of Jolly Mtn. Lazy guess.

My substitute is usually a little knoll (6080'+ elv) 0.6 miles north of Jolly. In any case, last Thursday the weather was so great it was worth getting an early start from my campsite so that the snow conditions would be just right on the top of Jolly when I got there. (This time of year when the sun is out the NE slopes off Jolly turn to deep mush after maybe 10:30 or 11:00.)

Got to the top about 9:40, sat around in the warm sun, for a bit. There were some *very impressive* avalanche paths from the last avalanche cycle on the slopes below the usual route to the top. Not that I am inclined to test my luck there anyway. Great skiing off the top; bright sun and maybe 2 inches of fresh corn.  

I suppose it's the blue haze on the weekends, but I have been surprised at the lack of ski tracks higher up on Sasse Ridge this winter. The trick is to go during the week.

Larry