OXO / Puzzle Peak

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Hard

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Dense trees
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Sunny

Dust on crust on the face, as we expected but decided on a walk anyway. Ski crampons might have made the final push to the top easier, but it was workable without them as long as extra effort was put in to establish the skin track. Highly recommend some sharp edges for this one, there's no breaking through that crust.

I was surprised that the top 2-5cm of powder sitting on the crust wasn't sluffing away as we skied, but maybe that would be expected on a steeper slope instead.

Tree skiing to the exit was in better shape, with wind deposited powder and a less prominent crust layer.