Went up Asulkan valley today as far as the Cleaver between the Sapphire and Dome Glaciers @2200m.
Snowing lightly all day (a skiff on the car at the end of the day) with a few blue sky breaks in the morning to lure us up above treeline – clouds settled in again by the later afternoon.
15cm. of snow in the track at valley bottom since yesterday afternoon bumped up to 25-30 by the time we began breaking trail above the Mousetrap making for 45cm+ ski pen and a good workout going uphill. Numerous small loose snow point release avalanches in this newer storm snow in 40 degree + terrain as well as skier triggered sluffs when we skied steeper terrain. No real slab in the upper snowpack as of yet and no wind effect in the terrain we were in though I am sure that may change higher up at ridge crest or wind exposed locations (looked like some wind action up high on the Youngs peak side of the valley.
All in all great (okay amazing) skiing but be aware of loose snow sluffs especially in confined features or where there is a consequence below you should you be swept off your feet.
One other thing , I am sure that Parks will have plowed out the parking lot by tomorrow but if you are in a 2 wheel drive make sure first as it was bumper deep in the Asulkan parking lot today.
Keep them slippery side down – at least when you land!
Cheers,
Scott Davis
Mountain Guide