10 Jan - steeper and stable

Today we skied a good spot from 1650m, although low, it is effectively completely un-anchored. North and NE terrain with plenty at 35 degrees and sections nearing 40 degrees. Prime avalanche terrain that we moved in quite confidently. This is in the Otari area, however today's photo is not of the terrain we rode, just the mountain we could see from there (and it is a classic local peal as well). Not being the types to get too carried away, we were always looking out or isolated slab, though it was impossible to find in our zone which had not been recently touched by wind. Good powder on a dense base. What was interesting was how incredibly fast yesterdays storm snow had settled. After the morning snow, bringing perhaps 30cm at 1500m, it turned warm and sunny, as forecast. That snow is now a lot denser and today's powder surface snow of about 15cm was what made the skiing good. We found a not so alarming shear between the two that I swear healed itself during the day. Snow changes fast here.