2/3/09, Slot to Snow Lake

Hoping a late start would let things soften up a bit I left the Alpental parking lot around 10:15. Half way up the Phantom I needed to use my ski crampons. At about 5600€™ I took them off and it was good skinning the rest of the way. When I got to the entrance to the Slot there were 2 guys with snowboards that had hiked up. We talked awhile and they told me I could go ahead if I wanted.

It was a little icy down to the dog leg then mostly hard pack wind drift stuff the rest of the way down to the flats. The exit of the Crooked looks terrible. (Bring a rope wait to see if we get 10 more feet of snow).

I put my skins back on and headed WNW up to a saddle on the ridge at about 4900€™. From here it was sort of steep (no more than 50 degrees) for the first dozen turns and then mellows out nicely. It gets fairly low angel but skiable all the way to Snow Lake.  The snow/skiing was surprisingly good. Once at the lake I put the skins back on and headed up the Snow Lake Divide. Took the skins off and skied down to Source Lake and then back to Alpental. The Source Lake basin is still hammered by the avalanche last month.

Overall it was a very enjoyable tour and a fun loop. I think the elevation total was around 4600. I was back at the car at 2:45. I forgot my camera and sure with I hadn€™t b/c it was a beautiful day.