Observations

Girdwood – A1 & Northstar:

Obvious signs of instability (red flags):

• None observed

Weather:

• Sunny skies, calm wind, alpine temps in the teens

Surface conditions:

Variable, but with large areas of very nice recycled (faceted) powder that has been sheltered from the wind.

Snowpack:

Low danger surveying day covering a lot of ground.  Main concerns when new snow arrives are areas with thin layer of heavily faceted surface snow atop stout windboard, and areas with sun crusts.

Route:

Toured up to the top of the cat trail.  Took the broad ridge to the summit of A1.  Took the fourth class ridge from A1 to Northstar.  Descended variable (sun and wind affected) Northstar couloir (westerly aspect).  There is actually a lot of protected powder and long runs in consistently good snow can be had, although CPG has been pillaging with the heli.