Pickhandle Ridge Feb 26

Ski up from Crystal to Pickhandle Ridge.  About 5 in on firm crust under trees on way up, even ski crampon did not help at times.  About a foot of new on top with obvious wind slabs.  By avoiding the wind slabs we were able to ski the upper slopes down into Elisabeth Creek with out setting any thing off.  Snow was fairly light and skiing was good.

However, conditions got worse as we descended, as the snow got heavier and the old crust underneath was firmer, making small slides (5' x 10') easy to set off.  Our main concern was a small sluff pushing us into a tree well and trapping our skis.

The push out was wet and heavy, we worked for those turns.  We thought the groomed run would be better but the snow was so wet we need to pole or skate downhill.  Basically sleet at the parking lot.  No picture - visibility was bad