Most of the day doing rescue practice, and it was great to see winter return - cold temps, snow falling from the sky, and tress with snow in them.

The forecast was spot on - you couldn't buy an avalanche near and below treeline because the snowpack is so faceted. It just crumbles under your shovel when doing snowpack tests. However we did see drifting in open areas and I'm sure there were drifts above treeline that could have easily been 6-12" deep but only over small areas.

The main hazard is still hitting rocks and stumps. Somehow the snow from Dec 1-3 is still pretty supportable as long as both skis are flat on the snow.

Photo 1 - minor drifting and baby cornice formation along a small ditch in an open area

Photo 2 - the group

Photo 3 - Close call with a rock the day before looking up my uptrack when my ski somehow rode over the rock and the track just bounced off it.