April 23, 2005, Hawkins Mtn

3 of us headed out from Seattle at 6am and got to the "trailhead" a little after 8.  Steep and brushy to about 4200 (4600?) where we skinned up.  Good going in consistent 'mush.'  Lots of 'biler tracks on the E side of the ridge and even up onto the ridge.  Completely messed up that side and the W facing slope across from the summit ridge. The NE facing side of the summit ridge was littered with pinwheels and chunks (one perfect wheel about 30" in diameter poised to continue on down.)  Debated the advisability of skiing this and dropped it when we triggered a small chunk of snow that quickly grew into dozens of rolling chunks.

After lunch we decided to eschew a summit bid (a kind of weird Mountaineer snowshoe group --one guy with no shoes postholing the whole way--was up there.)

The day was overcast and temps, though warm, were consistent, so the snow stayed skiable mush instead of slop and slush.  Every turn started a barrage of snow chunks, but we managed to outski them.  We skinned back up to the top of the ridge, got in some more nice turns and headed down.  Aside from an intimate encounter with a hungry tree well--got two of us--we had nice tree skiing down to below our skin-up point.  The rain started when we got to the car and we drove back in downpour.  All in all a great day, considering what it could have been.
bill