Glop Til You Drop

Skin wax anyone? Tested a new point of access in the Swan, defeated again. 

• No recent avalanche activity.
• No cracking or collapsing.
• Snow was patchy below 5000'.  Blowdown and deer scat were more prevalent. 
• Above 5000' on W and NW aspects the snow was variable.  Areas exposed to sun or wind were firm. Protected pitches held 1-3" of damp snow above a supportable crust. Glopping was an issue in these areas.
• At 6400' we entered a sheltered lodgepole stand on W aspect. Moist snow above the crust at this location amounted to 4-5" and the glop was non-stop. We opted to turn around at 6600'.
• Sun from 9am to 2pm. Calm winds.

To avoid getting trapped in the labyrinth of blowdown we paralleled our skin track back down to the vehicle.