March 19, 2005, Melawkwa Pass

Plan A had been to head to Cascade Pass and Magic Mt's. NE couloir. Alas, winter chose to arrive midweek and forced a plan B. Plan B was to ski Colchuck via the Colchuck glacier and tool about in enchanted high country. However, with the impending forecast for Sat. we decided against the extra drive time in favor of something closer to home (anyone head east to give me the thumbs up on our decision or the ha-ha-ha should have stuck with plan B response ???)

We slept in sort of and headed to the Snoq. Pass area. I knew we wouldn't find anything down low, but I thought we might find some skiing in the Chair Peak Lk. basin. We hiked in via the Denny Ck. trail to Melawkwa Lakes. Trail was packed snow to here. We postholed through the boulder fields to Melawkwa Pass (around 2 hours to cover a mile) and crossed to the North side of the pass where we dug a pit to ground level. The top 16" was wind slab over the very solid March crust. We isolated a block, did a shovel shear, and watched the top slab release easily with no breakup. Below the crust was another 12-16" layer that began as hard, dense snow then gave way to sugary, faceted snow which overlayed another hard crust. Below this second crust and down to the ground was a hardpacked, uniform base. We chose not to ski the bowl, feeling the upper slab layer was not safe.

Having given up the idea of skiing the basin or making a go for Kaleetan's summit, we booted up a gully below the west face of Chair Peak, hoping for a few turns. This gully consisted of windblown, breakable crust over fairly heavy, though unconsolidated snow which lay above rocks. Needless to say, the skiing left a lot to be desired.

Mostly it was a good workout and an excuse to play in the mts. with a low level of commitment. Had it been November, I'd have been psyched for the upcoming ski season. Beats working on my bathroom remodel or digging in the garden though.