March 26, 2006, MRNP Mazama back bowl

What started out as a trip from Paradise to Cowlitz Rocks turned into a shorter trip to the back bowl when the clouds and blowing snow overpowered the sun. There was a couple inches of fresh dense powder at 10 AM over a light breakable crust going up at 4th Crossing to N end of Mazama Ridge, with snow falling and a breeze from W. We three yo-yo'd in the bowl, finding up to 6 inches of wind blown fresh powder on east facing slopes, for nice turns when we could see, turns by feel when the light was too flat. On the trip back at 2, it seemed that several inches had accumulated, for about 6 fresh inches on the west facing slopes, despite what the telemetry shows. It was great to ski all the way back and not have to wait for a toboggan ride this time.