Aprin 27, 2005, Ingalls Basin

The road to Esmarelda trailhead is open as far as the washout .25 miles or so from road’s end. Three of us headed up to Ingall’s Pass with the hope of adequate snow to make the trudge worthwhile. The trail his snow free as far as the basin below Ingall’s Pass, except for one long skinnable stretch before trail junction to Long’s Pass. We crossed the pass and found plenty of snow in Ingall’s Basin. We climbed to the top of pk 7382 and skied it’s east face – the southeast face is melted out to much for a continuous run. Lots of sluffs and big snowballs on the steep stuff, but nothing a ski cut  or a ski tester couldn’t manage. I got ahead of a couple large snowballs on one steep section. There looked to be some bigger slides from the previous day, as that was probably the warmest day so far this year.  The ski/hike down followed the trail. Dramatic melting in only a few ours since our morning ascent. We should have been hitting Navaho Pk this weekend, and Ingalls in 2 or 3 weeks. Maybe next year.