Dec 20, 2008 Alpental ski area

Took a quick drive up solo to Alpental today, very cold highs 7 deg F, but not too windy in afternoon, expected worst gusts per forecast (drive home I-90 was much more windy w/gusts).

Skinned up the established skin track (nice!) to top of Armstrong, up above that point looked pretty boney still, so decided to yo-yo a bit around the lower areas; hit up low nash too.  In summary, fantastic waist-deep powder, pretty tracked out the lower you went but could still find great dry pow everywhere!  Never hit bottom (ie rocks) as some have reported at other areas

Ran into ski partol, who informed me they would start working to open Alpental soon and would be bombing the mt starting as early as early Sunday AM, and asked that "we" consider staying away until opening.  Did not look to me that Alpy was in a condition to open this soon, still lots of partly exposed creeks and "holes" you need watch for?  Anyway with the high wind warning and forcasted wind loading avy hazards, might be good idea to stay out of this (high avy prone anyway) area for Sunday at least.

I opted to not travel into Alpental backcountry today, wasn't sure what kind of coverage would be found.  Anyone have a latest TR of the Great Scott bowl and Source Lake area, I'm curious what I missed  ???