Bullion Basin, Crystal Mountain November 16
11/16/13
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1734
0
Headed up to Durkin Lodge at Crystal Mountain (http://www.durkinlodge.com/ if you're looking for slopeside lodging this season!) for the weekend to catch the first big storm of winter and lend a hand around the cabin as they prep for the rental season.
Quick Saturday afternoon recon tour into Bullion Basin confirms it, winter is here. Six to 14" of blower powder on top of a few inches of solid crust in most places.
Roughly an hour tour up the skin track and into the basin proper and we found pow.
Stability was mixed, with the basin floor showing consistent light, dry pow down to the grassy bed, while south facing slopes were either partially wind scoured, or shooting cracks off the skin track and fracturing into small slabs at the crust layer.
Got the strong feeling that south facing (and possibly other) areas with more snow accumulation or wind transfer could yield some slab slide potential. So we ripped quick, conservative lines starting about halfway up the track to the SE ridge saddle. The snow seemed consistent and well anchored by the grass below here, and we triggered no action. Except some new rock shots and lost Ptex on the ride out.
Four inches of fresh, dry pow dropped Saturday night at Gold Hills, seemed like five or more inches of new up top.
Did resort laps on Green Valley all Sunday morning and still managed to find fresh lines. Great opening weekend around Crystal, here's to many more pow days to come this season!
Quick Saturday afternoon recon tour into Bullion Basin confirms it, winter is here. Six to 14" of blower powder on top of a few inches of solid crust in most places.
Roughly an hour tour up the skin track and into the basin proper and we found pow.
Stability was mixed, with the basin floor showing consistent light, dry pow down to the grassy bed, while south facing slopes were either partially wind scoured, or shooting cracks off the skin track and fracturing into small slabs at the crust layer.
Got the strong feeling that south facing (and possibly other) areas with more snow accumulation or wind transfer could yield some slab slide potential. So we ripped quick, conservative lines starting about halfway up the track to the SE ridge saddle. The snow seemed consistent and well anchored by the grass below here, and we triggered no action. Except some new rock shots and lost Ptex on the ride out.
Four inches of fresh, dry pow dropped Saturday night at Gold Hills, seemed like five or more inches of new up top.
Did resort laps on Green Valley all Sunday morning and still managed to find fresh lines. Great opening weekend around Crystal, here's to many more pow days to come this season!
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