11/25/11 Cement Basin [link to pics fixed]

After reading the reports this morning of the pepper sprayings, shootings, and general mayhem in the Walmarts and malls yesterday, Mark, Alpymarr (visiting from his HQ in Ogden Utah where they have less snow) and I decided that we were probably much safer slaying pow in Cement Basin. We were cautious of the conditions, considering the NWAC report of "High" Avy danger, but we could only get the snow to move in one small area with an icy crust underneath. everywhere else seemed remarkably stable. we were guessing that the new snow bonded well to the rain layer. areas that received wind deposition had deep and cohesive snow, with a 2-4" layer on top which showed cracking, but never moved. a few hundred feet below ridge tops, there was 1-2 feet of unconsolidated fluff. stepping off the planks to transition would find a person crotch deep in the snow. a good problem to have  ;D. every couple dozen turns we would feel the underlying rain crust, but otherwise coverage is great. lapped the bowls in cement basin without seeing anyone else back there... where was everyone? still decent turns keeping to the cross loaded wind buffed pow on the way back to the car. west face of east peak had decent coverage, but obviously windscoured in places; dinged a couple buried tree snags on the way out.  Crystal looked like a circus, with a parachuter to boot... feeling lucky to have endless untracked lines to ourselves! beautiful views of Mount Rainier, and later views of the Stuart Range. An excellent way to spend Evacuation Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuation_Day_(New_York)) with good friends.
pictures to come...