March 4, 2006, Heather Ridge
3/4/06
WA Stevens Pass
1339
1
Skied up to Skyline Lake, then N. over the ridge and took a couple of laps on the backside. Found 2-10" of unconsolidated powder on top of a (fast) rain crust that generally supported my weight. The skiing on north-facing slopes was actually quite nice. Skied back up over the ridge and down to Skyline Lake on a mixture of crust, ice, and powder. The line was spiced up a bit by an army of Mountaineers attempting to dig snow caves on every open slope. Had a great time cutting the switchbacks on the way down - the snow had slushed up quite nicely (but will probably suck tomorrow).
We had the same good powder conditions today on North slopes beyond Skyline Lake, ran into the last group of Mountaineers destroying their snow cave, so no one would fall in it when the snow begins to melt.
Close to the ridgecrest was sun and wind crust, but below 5300' was much better, especially where trees guarded the snow from too much sun. The slopes back to the parking lot were mostly challenging, soft powder where trees had blocked the sun and rutted tracks from yesterday where the sun had his way. But straight down from the eastern most point of the cat track was nice dust on crust in trackless snow.
Snowing sideways when we headed home at 2:30PM, serious looking accident about a mile west of Stevens Pass, and the usual one or two bold bozos speeding by the rest of us.
Close to the ridgecrest was sun and wind crust, but below 5300' was much better, especially where trees guarded the snow from too much sun. The slopes back to the parking lot were mostly challenging, soft powder where trees had blocked the sun and rutted tracks from yesterday where the sun had his way. But straight down from the eastern most point of the cat track was nice dust on crust in trackless snow.
Snowing sideways when we headed home at 2:30PM, serious looking accident about a mile west of Stevens Pass, and the usual one or two bold bozos speeding by the rest of us.
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