Kokanee Ridge and Bowl

Riding quality was:

Amazing

Snow conditions were:

• Deep powder
• Powder

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Sunny

Avalanche conditions

• Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Route: Skied Montana Bowl from top of Stoke; descent on S-facing aspects from saddle W of Goat Peak. Ascent up Kokanee Ridge Road; second descent into Kokanee Bowl: S-facing aspects into the main bowl re-entrant; entering at 2250m, short of Kokanee peak. Skied to 1750m then transitioned to catch bottom of ridge road.

Skiing conditions: Montana S-aspects skied very well in Alpine, and OK in treeline - a lot better than a week ago. Some evidence of old crust below more recent snow in the treeline in particular. Kokanee skied amazingly all the way down. Deep powder in both alpine and treeline; no crust below the snow even on S facing slopes. Catchers Mitt in workable condition.

Snowpack and avalanche: We didn't trigger anything on our descents, albeit largely skied <30' slopes in simple terrain. Felt stable throughout. Some avalanche activity on the N/NW-facing aspect of higher Kokanee Bowl (see images). All small: mixture of size 1-1.5 with evidence of other avalanche debris from previous days prior to the most recent storm. Almost Heli had half a dozen tracks on it by midday; with no avalanche activity observable from below.

Weather: Relatively sunny throughout the day with periods of poor vis; low to moderate winds; no precipitation.