Heliotrope Ridge Ski Descent ??

I was up at Heliotrope Ridge today, and I saw a number of skiers and boarders going towards the skier's left to what may have been a more direct descent to the trailhead. I hiked up the standard climbers trail and came back down the same way. Is there a more direct descent back to the trailhead from the top of Heliotrope Ridge, and if so how are the conditions?

It sounds like they were headed for the Grouse Creek drainage. Take a look at a topo map, it should be easy to pick out the drainage. I was up there in mid-April and there were a few thin spots but I suspect the skiers left gully to still be full of snow. I'm not sure how open Grouse Creek is now, I bet you can find a good crossing but not as easily as a month ago.

It was still fully in last Monday (ten days ago) but the creek/swamp/short forest bottom is probably quite soggy now. The gullies will hold longer, but are major slide hazard during the current heat with no night freeze.

Went through there on Tuesday (May 13). Could still skin the woods if you view your skis as tools not jewels. Walked most of it coming back. Peteyboy is right about it not re freezing over night lately so be careful about being in some of the gullies.

There is also a terrain hazard to be aware of:

mtbakerclimbing.blogspot.com/2011/07/hogsback-moat.html?m=1