4/1 - 4/2, 2006, Silver Star Mtn

We wanted to get an early start to the north cascade season and decided to give Silver Star Mtn a shot over the weekend. Drove up the East side to the trailhead in ~5 hrs due to snow at the passes. Got rained on up to about 4500'. Saw significant evidence of wet slides on West and even North Aspects. Dug a pit on a east facing slope and found it Ok. Decided to proceed. Ended up camping at 6400' at the base of the glacier. The storm came in that night dropping about 6-8" of dry powder on top of the wet layer from the day before. The morning was bright and beautiful and offered us our first glimpse of the mountain. Alas, it was not to be as the weather quickly deteriorated into true radar skiing. We decided to turn around at 7400' around the base of the col leading onto the true glacier. Visibility good enough to see your hand in front of your face but that was about it. Snow stability was Ok. Grabbed the stuff at camp and endured the leg snapping slush run (with full packs) back to the car. Beautiful peak, good potential but not the greatest of conditions.

All was not lost as it was a good time in the mountains with friends and a bit of powder was found en route to the car...