Toured up the ridge between Marion Lake and Dickey Ck. Found many northernly cornices from a southern wind which seemed odd given the heavy northern winds that we have been having (see photo). Assumed this was due to the complex terrain of the Middle Fork corridor. First run down the south facing aspect into the Marion Lake drainage was very consolidated/wind affected snow.. not what we were hoping for (see photo). So we used an old skin track to climb Essex Mtn (thank you to the two people who put it in on their way to ski High Rustler out). Skied multiple runs down the northern aspects of Essex Mtn which were fantastic with very little to no wind affect. Observed a party skiing a northeast aspect back down the the western end of Marion Lake. Final run was out a northern aspect to Dickey Ck which to our surprise was also somewhat wind affected but still skied well. Overall a beautiful day with plenty of great skiing and no signs of instability in the snowpack.
