Mt Hector in variable conditions

Riding quality was:

Terrible

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Hard
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Mellow slopes

We stayed away from:

• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Cold
• Sunny
• Windy

Good day up mt Hector, 8h00 round trip. Weather was colder than expected, with gusty wind all day long. We were suprised by the low snowpack on pretty much the whole route (except waterfall that is all skiable on the way down).

The glacier is filled in, with only a few crevasses visible (center right of glacier). The last part of the climb have big icy patch below it from the high wind. We noticed a small windslab above 3000m, but only 5-10cm thick. Did a handshear in the last pitch in a snow pocket and did not get any result.

Snow is bulletproof almost everywhere except on low angle slope on the glacier. Ski quality was ok sometimes, but globally terrible. I would not expect any avalanche considering there is no snow (see pictures)

Today was more about the views than the ski quality, but still a solid day out.