Smithers, 5000'/King Louie

4 folks skinned up 5000' today. Hard freeze overnight at low elevation. Partial cloud cover meant minimal warming on solar aspects. Alpine variable firm wind pressed and very faceted windslab. Bootpacked rock up shallow ribs from just above treeline to peak to avoid slippery skinning. Skied King Louie, shallow snow pack in upper pitches, snow on the (ahem) firmer side of things but still reasonably consistent turns. 1 size 1.5 release on NE aspectin lower alpine from cornice fall in last few days. Older size 2-2.5 debris in main path mostly covered. Lower gully pretty well filled in from earlier winter cycles and fairly smooth surface.

What is king louie?

King Louie is the large 'gulley' on the northerly edge of the 5000' face, a more direct line off the summit that feeds the avalanche path intersecting the Davidson mine road and that is slightly steeper in the highest start zone. The upper pitch has quite a bit of rock sticking out of it, and has cross loaded cornices above the mid pitch.