Skied up and down Little Dog (8600') via SW ridge today. Snow was cold and hard for the approach. Cloud cover was 95% at 7:30am, about 60% at noon and about 20% at 4:00pm. Old loose wet avalanche activity was observed (elevations above 6750', mostly SW to W aspects). Saw some cross loaded paths across the valley on S and SE aspects. Our experience in the gut of the drainage leading to the summit was mostly wind scoured. We witnessed no signs of instability on route and were glad we had an "early enough" start. Once skiing, the first 750 vertical feet was still firm, then things softened into sun warmed corn. 2000' down the fall line things were getting creamy though (~2:45-3:00pm). At Three Bears Lake we looked back and noticed several new loose wet slides had occurred on S aspects. Cloud cover kept things cool for the first half of the day, otherwise we would have need a much earlier start.
Skied up and down Little Dog (8600') via SW ridge today. Snow was cold and hard for the approach. Cloud cover was 95% at 7:30am, about 60% at noon and about 20% at 4:00pm. Old loose wet avalanche activity was observed (elevations above 6750', mostly SW to W aspects). Saw some cross loaded paths across the valley on S and SE aspects. Our experience in the gut of the drainage leading to the summit was mostly wind scoured. We witnessed no signs of instability on route and were glad we had an "early enough" start. Skiing down, the first 750 vertical feet was still firm, then things softened into sun warmed corn. 2000' down the fall line things were getting creamy (~2:45-3:00pm). At Three Bears Lake we looked back and noticed several new loose wet slides had occurred on S aspects. Cloud cover kept things cool for the first half of the day. Near future experience may vary.
