Mar 12, 2008, Snoqualmie Mt. and environs

Swooz, Dave from Maine, and I toured the Snoqualmie Mt. area today. Perhaps 3-4" of fresh medium density powder on an easily breakable rain crust at the start, a much firmer crust at about 5000', with wind scoured icy ridges up high. Ski crampons were helpful at times. We found reasonable medium density powder on north facing slopes at variable depths. depending on what the wind had blown around. Crooked couloir was icy at the top, lots of frozen chunky unyielding debris in the middle, and great at the run out with up to 8" of firm powder. The Phantom had wet powder but wasn't yet mushy.  No indication of instabilities at all. A fine day...