December 23, 2012, Kendall and Commonweath.

Headed up from PCT TH, followed existing skintrack to top of 2nd Kendall Knob and then followed forested ridgeline to 5200.  East wind kicked up above 2nd knob, with S aspect slopes showing some wind scouring.  Found some pockets of windslab developing on N side of rib, but at the time very shallow (2-3 inches).  Snow study spot a little farther N showed fairly uniform fist density in first 18 inches and slightly denser below.  Column test sheared at 18, but break was very irregular.  Choose to ski west aspect open slopes.  Very enjoyable -- noted some minor sluffing of top inch or two of recently wind transported snow.  Skied open slope a ways below the PCT crossing , which was a mistake, as finding a creek crossing lower down was problematic.  Old growth forest down to commonwealth creeked skied well - even though somewhat tracked up and tree bombed.    Commonweath creek trail was a snowshoe track / ludge run, but soft snow on sides made it controllable -- no snowshoers were run over.