Chilkoot crater lake area

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Chilkoot crater lake area

Snow conditions

Snow conditions were:
  • Crusty
  • Hard
  • Powder
  • Wind affected
We rode:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Mellow slopes
  • Sunny slopes
We stayed away from:
  • Convex slopes
  • Steep slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Sunny
  • Windy

Comments

3 day, 2 nights ski tour with base camp in crater lake area. We started at Fraser and went up the mt VanWagenen glacier and back the same way (through Bryant lake). We saw evidence of several old size 2 avalanches on north facing aspects above Bryant lake. These avalanches seemed to be about a week or two old. The ski down from the col after Bryant lake onto the Chilkoot was very wind affected and icy! Very poor ski conditions! The snow pack near crater lake was very windcompressed with patches of sastugi and patches of ice. We traveled roped up on the glacier with great travel conditions and great skiing on the glacier. We noticed fresh snow in the Fraser area from friday night's snowfall on our way out. It seemed like great skiing.