January 31, 2007, Granite Mountain

With David's report from yesterday of still-corn I headed up, leaving the trailhead at a very reasonable 10:45. Very little breeze even on top, sunny and warm, had some lunch just below the top. I started down at 1:45 and skied the south face run that goes into the skier's right gulley. Still excellent skiing! In a few spots had to be careful of old tracks (icy), but overall great skiing on 1-2 inches of softened snow over a firm base. Stopped at 3900 feet and booted back up the rib between skier's right and central gullies. Too tired to go back to the top so stopped at 5100 feet. Started down around 3:30 and skied the skier's right side of the rib, still facing the westering sun (soft) and not very tracked. Down lower skied the "glades" of the central gulley as they were still in the sun, down to about 3400 feet. The trail on the way up had been incredibly icy so after crossing back to the west of the gully I just plunge stepped down through the firm forest snow and hit the trail around 2500 feet. I didn't fall at all skiing but nearly biffed about a dozen times hiking the last few hundred vertical of the trail - packed and frozen snow and some water ice. Instep crampons would have been helpful. Seems like tomorrow may be similar, so if you are one of the few bc skiers who has not skied Granite corn this week, don't delay!