December 1, 2004, Nisqually Chutes

Another 6" to 8" of fresh has erased the tracks from Sunday, though it's not the blower pow of the weekend. The gate opened at 9:05 AM, and we ascended through the mist and wet falling snow to find  bluebird skies above Pan Point - the lot was deserted except for a split boarder from Olympia named Robert, our group of three, one other skier (Zap) and two snowshoers, pretty good odds for first tracks. Skinned up from the lot with no rangers or "no sliding" flyers in evidence up to the higher (west) Nisqually Chute @ 8,400 and turned until the legs wouldn't work anymore.

The snow from Monday had a slight sun crust on southern aspects higher on the mountain; the 8" or so of fairly heavy fresh was well bonded to what was left of the powder and the underlying hard layer. Snow lower down on SE aspects (and in the shade) was significantly better . . . be careful, there are MANY rocks barely covered with snow, we were lucky to emerge with only 1 core shot.

Some more pictures here: http://homepage.mac.com/mpobrien/nisqually.htm