Packed snow/ice on 164/410 on the way in, taking an extra 30 min, noticing folks putting chains on in the McDonald's parking lot, arriving 9 am, lots 1/3 full, 10F with a 10 mph westerlies. It turned out that yesterday's BIG 3% snow was blown off the hlll by an even BIGGER sustained 60 mph wind with gusts to 90!
I relaxed in the morning with #1 while ignoring the 20 min C6 lift line. After a couple of groomers I was disappointed to find that the Boondoggle environs wasn't worth the effort as it was cut up pretty darn good from yesterday's crowd. Hmmm. So up FQ and into an early lunch where I ran into 3 amigos in who seemed eager to follow my afternoon lead once we shuffled our groups up.
By noon the C6 line was gone. Once up C6 the rock-a-dance began. I opted to go right and then traverse back into the PB to between cannons 2 and 3 on the west ridge -- that was a rock-free move if you ignored the 2 small rocks guarding the chute's entrance. Then easey-beasey through the bowl into the Lucky Shot side entrance into Bear Pits, with nice soft turns at the bottom.
Up C6 again but this time we had sidestepped to the left to gain the ropeline. The back traverse across Campbell Basin was very straightforward. Passing on the hike, we entered A Basin through the mid-gate and found very nice past-the-boot turns that kept going until Elizabeth Lake. This became our hamster fun until it was time to head home.
What an oddly-fun day. Never rode REX, GV or NWay. The way out was slowness on the Blvd, 45mph to Enumclaw, more compact snow/ice into Auburn, then 60 mph to Seattle where I promptly had to shovel my driveway. Inspection of my bases revealed no damage but my cold wax had been unevenly worn off -- more oddness or else the iron wasn't hot enough last night -- or I might need a new scraper!
