Healy Ck-Simpson Pass-2Cairins

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Powder

We rode:

• Dense trees

We stayed away from:

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

The day was:

• Sunny

Avalanche conditions

• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Went for an exploration trip - not looking for turns. Healy Ck Trail was well trodden and hard packed. Broke trail toward Simpson Pass - we mostly stayed low in the valley in the morning shade, and along the side of the east ridge.

Wumph observations started in the trees as we went higher on the ridge above Simpson pass and again in the rock gardens behind 2 Cairins. Sun started to warm/melt the snow starting around noon - snowballs were falling off trees and rolling in steeper terrain. Some very rotten patches on slopes facing afternoon sun. Lower down in the valley past Healy Ck turnoff, snow felt good and consolidated. No signs of recent avalanches - sizable older avalanche on Monarch.