Hey there,
Guided Moonlight, Snowline and 2Low4Zero yesterday in Evan Thomas Creek (minus the last WI2 pitch), and spent the day doing laps on the ski of Narao shoulder.
The cold temps up the Evan Thomas yesterday created lots of tension in the ice on all three routes. Lot's of settlements, and shooting cracks crossing the ice features as well as one that shot clean out and across the hang fire near the top between Moonlight and Snowline as I pulled up and past. No release unfortunately (we were in a good spot to watch them go), so their still up there in wait for the next party. Lot's of sloughing as well as the temps warmed slightly throughout the day, dragging the occasional rock down in them as the recent storm snow slid down over the routes.
We skied a couple laps on Narao shoulder today which were both really good. Ski quality was fantastic below treeline with low density non wind effected snow most everywhere we got to. We ran into the Jan 6 Surface Hoar/Facet layer in some of the more open features around 2150m. Ski cuts were becoming more reactive and the wumphfing and cracking more consistent as we moved up to 2200m , we pulled the skins and skied a couple laps on few different lines from there. Stability tests on the layer Janurary 6th layer were giving sudden, easy results in those same open treeline features where the soft slab became present.
Fun skiing up there right now, have a great day tomorrow!
Mike Trehearne
Alpine Guide & Apprentice Ski Guide
Cloud Nine Guides