Cream Cheese at the Big

Quick day-off tour near the resort

• 6-8” of very dense, top-heavy storm snow. The snow did not give any feedback on steep test slopes in wind protected terrain. 
• Strong winds overnight had drifted the snow above 6k feet. Control routes in East Ridge produced a number of wind slabs 10”-20” thick, localized to near wind exposed ridgeline (D1 in size). 
• The weather came in warmer and dryer than forecast for today. The freezing level rose to around 5700’, with very light snowfall rates above that and very light rain below that. Moderate winds were producing light snow transport at upper elevations; near and below the freezing line the surface was too dense for transport. 
• We had good views of mid elevation terrain in the Canyon and saw no avalanches.