5 Feb - very nice powder

I wanted to spend time with Mio today before she went away on business for some time - so rather than going for a long full day trip, I started late with Clint and finished early. There was good snow on offer, nice powder above the previously wind packed and/or loaded snow. Perfect stellars on the surface, though getting dense quickly as the day warmed and the snow settled. From where we were, with ok vis, we only saw old filled in avalanches, nothing recent. The snow we skied on the terrain we had to ourselves was good fun and good stability. Most importantly, we were near to yet absolutely way from a busy procession of Sunday backcountry groups. We did not cross one path or see one person all day. Broke trail the whole way in perfect snow with perfect light. Happy stuff. Light winds well above tree line and enough solar through sporadic broken clouds to create a thin crust on certain aspects, but it is not widespread.

It was warm in the valley with a few large roof avalanches claiming a few cars, or at least shoving them a meter or two from their original position. Tomorrow will warm again, to above freezing at about 1700m, with some rain to follow. Remember that warm temps and rapidly warming temps, create weak snow.