May 20, 2012

Tincan May 2012

Skiing from the road is still available at Turnagain Pass.  Tincan pullout has a few feet of snow in the meadow at the road.  DP and yours truly found fresh, warm snow up high on northwest aspects, and slushy snow elsewhere.  We enjoyed sunshine from noon to 2 p.m. when the wind picked up and snowy clouds moved in.  Visibility remained good while we ascended back up to Tincan Ridge from lower Todd's Bowl.  Snowpack was firm with a few exceptions on extremely steep rollovers (cliffs in the summer) below 1500 feet elevation.
Photocredit:  Dante

May 13, 2012

Archangel Crustskiing

After a record snowfall, plenty of opportunities for spring skiing have been available.  Crust skiing to alpine touring to lift-served downhill skiing have been very good.  Kruser guided yours truly up to the Snowbird Mine for some backcountry skate skiing last week.
Snowbird Mine Shack
Archangel Creek:  Hoping for a Snowbridge
Happily Testing the Bridge
Photocredit:  KRUSER