The news is you can still ski up there, so we went and brought back the beta in the form of some photos and a bit of reporting.
We figured this might be one of the last times we can easily get out skiing with a variety of test gear, so we set WildSnow Production Assistant Joe up with the full monty. Nearly everything you see in this photo is a WildSnow.com test and review item. G3 Zen Oxide skis paired with G3 climbing skins, Scarpa Rush ski boots, Mammut pants and Jacket, K2 Lockjaw poles and a slick Dakine backpack. The hat and gloves are Joe's. Click image to enlarge.
Some of you might remember Dave Downing, who did a number of guest blogs a while back and helped quite a bit with various WildSnow endeavors up to when he moved to Montana. He's visiting and had a dad's day off, so we set him up with my Green Machines and our pair of Dynafit Huascaran testers we're including in our Ultimate Quiver. The socks and shorts are his. We didn't ski a huge amount of vert, but we did hit everything from morning frozen to midday slush. Good test. Click image to enlarge.
Well, yesterday in the 12,500 foot and above zone conditions began the shift to a warmer snowpack on the easterly reaches, with northwest exposures becoming hardened by melt/freeze and not ready to ski till later in the day. I had my eye on an easterly line, but when we got there the eggshell had softened and you could easily punch a ski pole into the facet layers lurking underneath like some kind of HP Lovecraft beastie. Nonetheless, by staying to some lower angled terrain and simply cruising around, we made turns and had a nice day. Dirt hike to snow from upper hairpin trailhead on Western Slope side was still about 20 minutes. Overall, snowpack is looking thin.
3 comments
I have a solution to your problem of too much gear to test and not enough snow. feel free to send as many toys as you wish down south and I’ll give you a south hemishpere opinion.
Just awaiting the plane tickets…. I like to be seated in first class but I guess business class will do.
LOVE the site, new to backcountry touring and skinning. Im curious if you could advise me to some locations near independence pass that would be rideable in the first part of June. I know this year is thin but your the man that knows the snow. any leads you can give me help, There is so much stuff to look at and study its almost overwhelming. thanks for the help. eric
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