Powderhouse

I toured at Powderhouse yesterday at 2-4pm and today at 11am-1pm. The conditions on the north slopes on both days were similar with significant new snow, at least a foot, from top to bottom. The snow was light and fluffy powder, except the bottom quarter and only today, when it was slightly heavier.

However, the peak area differed from yesterday to today. Yesterday, there was new snow, 6in to a foot deep in places, depending on wind exposure. Today, all that new snow was blown away or was in the process of being blown away. But this was the case only in that peak area. Just below the peak, the slope was virtually unaffected by recent winds (see picture 1 at 9000 feet). In the peak area, hardly any snow remained on trees (see picture 2) and the snow underfoot was hard and icy, in places.

The fearsome SW facing cornices on the ridge have grown. I jumped on a little cornice just north of the peak and got a partial release (see picture 3). But jumping on it further did not result in full release. It just seemed to pack down further.