Powderhouse

Toured up the NE ridge of Powderhouse today. From Grass Lake to about 8,200 the coverage is very thin (just a dusting) with lots of rock and tree hazards with a very hard crust. Old skin tracks are very slippery with the thin layer of cold powder on them. The hard crust was present to the East summit and there was between 5cm and 10cm of new very light powder snow on top. The top 150 feet to the summit became windblown with the crust on the surface; I could walk around on summit with only about 2cm of boot pen. The ski down was expectantly enjoyable (just enough powder)... until about 8,200 then it became challenging to get back to the Grass Lake. 

Pic 1: Thin coverage with 5-10cm of new on old supportable crust.

Pic 2: Down branches and trees from last wind event (Jan 19).

Pic 3: Just enough new snow to cover up old skin tracks. The old tracks were very slippery especially on the steep "Tahoe Ups".

Pic 4:  Thin coverage of new snow about mid slope. New snow was cold and powder like with a variable depth between none to 10cm.

Pic 5: Looking toward Stevens Pk.

Pic 6: Looking toward Waterhouse.