Join us at our 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball

Observation: Skyline

Observation Date
3/29/2013
Observer Name
Steve Cote/Darce Trotter
Region
Skyline
Location Name or Route
GE Hill/Lake Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments

Made a quick lap at GE Hill and skied south facing backside at about 0900, still a little early, crunchy, but 6" MF crust easily supported us. North facing little bowl has tired old cornices that are welded in place. Then we got motivated and walked south down the summit ridge along Skyline Drive south to head of Lake Fork looking to ski steeper east facing Toehead.. We did make a couple of quick laps on corn south facing and got off that stuff by 10, we were penetrating up to 4" or so, no big rollers, but time to leave. We then moved over into North facing terrain of summit ridge just north of Toehead and were interested in skiing steep north facing chutes, but wanted a look at pack before committing. First chute we can to had too many rocks and brush poking out and so we moved further west to the "Main Event". Dug down 4+' in thick strong pack and gave up digging, we were convinced the pack is incredibly strong where it is blown in and deep. Alas, our plans were foiled as conditions were square turn + with last storms snow in transition and presenting punchy 4" wind pack that had not settled out or softened to the point it would we worth it. Skiing these chutes committed us to big uptrack back out of drainage, and being the wise old men we are, decided to save them for a later day.

Coordinates