Metal Dome

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Hard
• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees
• Sunny slopes

We stayed away from:

• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cold
• Sunny

Went up to Metal Dome and the Metal Dome glacier to check out early season conditions and hang with a close friend. Snow on sunny aspects is quite marginal and variable, ranging from sun affected trap crust at TL, and wind affected snow ATL. Below tree line, many obstacles exist, and the biggest challenges in your day are access and egress, with snow levels well below threshold. Best quality skiing/riding exists on high elevation shaded aspects in sheltered locations.

We skied on the Metal Dome glacier. Glacier conditions with a thin snowpack definitely require bringing glacier gear and knowing how to use it. There were a few crevasses that are forming reliable snow bridges, but most crevasses are best to navigate around at this time of year by following concave features and compression zones.