Silver Basin 12/28/14

Is side-country considered backcountry if you earn your turns?

Anyway, Dustin and I did our first tour at Crystal of the year from some amazing turns and views.  Turns out from lots of beta from others for the day that getting high was key to finding any visibility for the day.  Plus there was an insane difference between the amount of snowpack at 4400 and say 5500 and up. 

Took a run in the sun off of the gentle south face of Silver King along the MRNP boundary and a couple in Silver proper from the saddle.  Found one very forced snowpack failure between skinning switchbacks similar to what Randy described perhaps.  Top 12-14 loose powder some sluffing; under that there was a more slabby consolidated and denser layer where the failure occurred.  didn't dig a pit so unsure where exactly it failed...but it failed well above the rain layer. 

link to pictures and videos.  a highlight of the day was the new HTC Re camera my brother bought for me.  most all pics and vids taken with this "go-PRO for NON-pro's": 


https://plus.google.com/108723526615173651639/posts/EQcJPfqBqSJ