Needle Peak

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Heavy
• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Foggy
• Warm
• Wet
• Windy

Avalanche conditions

• Slab avalanches today or yesterday.
• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.
• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Went out to needle peak to break in the new powder skis - picked the right day. Snow in the trees was pretty heavy and there was about 15cms of it. Up on the ridge the snow was dry. It was mild all day. Jumping on wind lips on small slopes on the ridge produced slabs stepping to the crust ~20-30cms down.

With the intel we skied E/NE facing slopes not much more than 30 degree. Ski cut a small slab on a wind affected convex roll. Weather was surprisingly good, but active wind from the west and weather was coming in fast as we headed out.