Feb 7, 2019, - White Salmon Cirque

Descent from the ski area was pretty fast, we stayed a little further skier's left and booted the bottom 1/3 or 1/2.

We went 1/3 up NW Couloir, poked around to the NF, and did a complete WSG run with two smaller laps sprinkled in. About 8900 vert total.

SIGNIFICANT wind affect, almost no unconsolidated snow in the cirque except for directly sheltered areas and in close proximity to trees. LOTS of wind board. The S to NW winds had a much larger impact than expected. Floatation helped break trail, but did not help on the descent. I used a 103mm and Lane used 82 and we think a 90-95 would have been perfect.

Climb back to ski area was easy, we stayed climbers left and had a short section of booting.

The whole area below 4k looks like November or December, not February.

Near the lower chock for the NW Couloir the snow started to get better, but felt off and a pit showed a sudden and planar collapse (think cash registar) at hit 22 about 20cm down, enough for us to pull the plug and ski back down. The shallower snow and steeper terrain above was too risky.

Fresh, low level snow will REALLY help this cirque get into shape.

Best run was skiers right from the top of the WSG.