February 10, 2007, Granite Mountain

Arrived at the trailhead at 9 this morning to a rather small circus for a partly sunny saturday on Granite.  A lot of snow disappeared since I was up there 2 weeks ago.  Many bare patches on the trail now, but at least it isn't the ice of previous weekends.   THe snow below treeline was 4-10 inch deep mush over a firm base while above that was quite good corn.  A vicious east wind was blowing across the south face, strong enough that with my board on my back I was forced onto all fours during the strongest gusts.  After having enough of the wind we dropped into the sweet (albeit windy) south face at about 5000'.  Good turns back down until there was nothing but avalanche chunks left.  Hopefully winter will come back now.  On an interesting side note, the Microsoft Terraserver satellite image of Granite caught a jet flying over it, unless I happened to miss the intact MD-80 parked on the mountain.