Kindergarten Couloir

La qualité du hors-piste était:

Excellente

Les conditions de neige étaient :

• Croûtée
• Poudreuse

Nous avons parcouru:

• Pentes raides

La journée était:

• Froide
• Ensoleillée

Valley bottom to 2200m: 5-10cm on firm slightly supportive crust of 3cm. Unconsolidated snow underneath. Old refrozen avalanche debris from last week's rain event coming out of couloir 2200m and below.

2200m-2500m: In the couloir, 20-60cm of powder overlying firm crust. Some pockets of 5cm styrofoam wind slab overlying powder.

2500m to top of Couloir (2600m): Firm packed powder till top out. Minimal cornice present.

Skied kindergarten Couloir from top to bottom. Overall conditions were better than expected in the middle, with the exception of the lower quarter of the Couloir where the crust was on the bulletproof side and old avy debris remained. The fan and below skied ok, dust on crust. Boot packing ranged from extremely supportive bulletproof crust (ice axe and crampons were used for ascent) to thigh deep powder steps. Top out was doable with minimal cornice present and a couple of sporty moves. Creek crossing was possible at the right spot but lake and water still flowing. All in all an enjoyable day in the mountains!