Spent the day wandering up Essex creek, looking for balance. Walked up the drainage with light clouds and sunshine above, trace snow on semi-supportable crust below. Through the day saw sun and snow, clear skies and whiteout, calm and moderate wind. Snow surface on the ascent varied even at upper elevations from soft and light to dust on ice, without any evidence of slabbing or cracking in the new or deeper layers. Snow above 7000’ was wind-affected. Squalling in the early afternoon left approx 2 in of new snow above 5000’. Triggered some moderate sluff on the decent. Noted some wet loose slides that appeared to be from both yesterday and today on the exit (see pic). Blue whales appear to be stubbornly clinging to their winter habitat for now. The wet, sticky snow below 4000’ led to some colorful language on the exit and may suggest the coming of a spring whale migration to lower country here soon.
