Burdette Hut: Get it before the storm rolls in!

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Hard
• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees
• Steep slopes
• Sunny slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Cold
• Foggy
• Stormy
• Sunny
• Warm
• Windy

Spent 4 days, 3 nights at Burdette Hut.

Feb 23rd: Sledded/ skinned into the hut on a clear, calm and sunny warm day. Skinned up slope north of hut before the sun began to set (16:50). Snow was very wind affected above treeline. Isolated slab activity going up and down. Naturals were observed on N and NE slopes in a bowl east of hut (wind and cornice initiated). HS ~60cm, -10 degrees, light winds from NE @ 1830m.

Feb 24th: Early start before sunrise. Headed west down valley from hut, towards the shark fin peak. Morning began clear and calm, transitioning to low ceiling with some clouds. Winds stayed moderate until we reached the peak @ 1750m, HS ~20cm, -12 degrees. Visibility allowed views looking down towards Atlin lake. Less isolated slab activity from the previous day (one shooting crack about 1m long on up track). Fog rolled in as we dropped back down to the valley. Skied the trees west of the hut in the afternoon, snow was deep powder.

Feb 25th: Skied above 1600m towards the ridge north west of the hut. In the afternoon, approached the slope east of the hut. Pit results (1350m, HS 140cm, -7 degrees) CTM16 SC down 120cm on depth hoar at ground and ECTP16 +4 down 35cm on facets. Ski cut in isolated sections showed no reaction. No naturals observed. Skiing was hard and wind affected above treeline. Storm during the day and overnight yielded about 6cm.

Feb 26th: Winds picked up during the night and continued into the morning, decreasing by mid-afternoon. Clear sunny day as we skinned/ sledded out.