Today we planned on a more clear, calm and warmer day than we experienced. We changed our plans reaching SUB shields in sub zero temps, that's what it felt like especially as the day progressed.
We skied S face and gully and had a good run, wind effect was only prevelant at ridge top of run. Better snow is definitely at mid elevations and protected, treed terrain. There is 8 -14 inches of light snow on top of firm crust on S and W aspects. On The North aspect we didn't feel the crust skiing or plunging our pole into the snowpack. Up high on the N aspect we skied light as we traveled across some wind effected areas on our way to the protected powdery trees.
We skied W aspect from 7200 on Elk and got whipped by cross winds climbing the slope adjacent to the main path. We dropped in avoiding convexities and were disappointed with how punchy and inconsistent the snow skied until again way down low in the trees. Funny how the exits are skiing the best right now in the MF.
