dec 23-27 Wallowas, Salt Creek and Wing Ridge

My wife and I (and dog) had several days of nice, if avalanchey, skiing in the Wallowas.  Several of the locals have created a great avalanche forecast web site there:  http://www.wallowaavalanchecenter.org/html/december_25__2009.html
which was very helpful.  People met in parking lot were very helpful as well and volunteered cautions were flying all around. 

We ended up doing a lot of XC in safe zones and I did a little downhill on slopes < 25% and bush/tree anchored, but even that felt iffy.  I have never seen such instability!  It was crackin' and whumphing all over.  Luckily the snow is so light over there that I can have a fast/fun run on a gentler slope.

Snow pack is quite slim with early season obstacles.  There was about 6-8 inches of fresh pow with good staying power for the 5 days we were there.  In the photo, I skied the little hill in the foreground to the right which provided 1000 feet of vert.