8am Saturday morning, the 15th of December. The snowfall from this latest storm is starting to pick up intensity and temperatures are dropping with the new snow becoming progressively low density. The Barometer has steadied.

The snow yesterday at 2000m was very deep, waist deep if you were forced to walk in it. I can’t imagine what it will be like by the end of tomorrow.

Everyone is frantic to get a lot of powder in the resorts today. Its tempting, but time riding lift served powder might feel good, but it doesn’t give me time on the ground in the backcountry. And I have a lot of experience and local knowledge to catch up on. So today I will go for another low angle tour to extend that knowledge a few more hundred meters. Mio is out of town and the chances of finding someone to join me today were zero, such is the lure of easy resort powder (competition).

Later:  on second thoughts, there is way too much new snow to ride anything below 30 degrees, and anything above will be loaded with close to 100cm of new snow without even a day to settle.  I wont venture that risk alone.  Pity the lower altitude touring (below 1500m) still hasn't got a deep base yet.  I'll sit this one out at home.