Jan 14, 2006, Alpental Valley

Headed up the summer trail in a search for a little ice to climb...found none of course.  Did a fair share of breaking trail as no one had ventured too far in with all the new snow.  I had a snowshoe penetration of about a foot in most spots.  The temps were pretty warm, about 35 or so.  There was light snow all morning and no noticible wind.  The new snow seemed to be pretty high density and bondng well.  I jumped on a few little slopes to see what kind of movement I would get and got none, only deeper penetration.  I didn't dig any pits or venture into any of the open slopes in the Source Lake basin area, didn't want to risk it.  Kind of wish I brought the board instead of the ice tools and rope, the trees would have provided some great powder riding.