Dec 18, Yodelin

Skinning from the parking lot it looked like it was going to be an awful day - duh.  The immediate rain crust (3600') started to go away around 4400' to become 14-16 inches of heavy snow on top of a very firm crust. We went up to the steep slope on the SE side of the summit (5250') just to do a shovel test. The top 16 inches sheared with the slightest pressure - as predicted by NWAC.

We dropped down to less steep slopes in the trees and skied SE on reasonable snow to around 4200 where to rain crust returned.  Went back up to the summit and skied the old growth to the NW in surprisingly good conditions. Rather than exiting via the logging roads, we cut through the forest heading back to the car and passed a cool looking boulder field.  All-in-all a much better day than we expected. Also, my friends first backcountry ski day.