Alaska 2013-2014 ski stories, conditions, etc.

[gopher]

I always enjoyed the local/state threads at the "other place" - hope they're ok here, too.

There was a big, friendly crowd at the top of the Jewel Glacier today:




And this guy (solo on the Milk Glacier below us) thought he had a good idea in the morning, when it was quite windy down-valley. But the wind died and he eventually packed it up and skied out.




Someone skied (unroped) into a crevasse on this glacier about three weeks ago. Haven't heard where it happened. These adventurers are taking a "non-traditional" route up the Jewel:




Some skiing was done. The conditions weren't horrid, but they weren't great, either. Carvable wind-buff with patches of very loud powder:






The new hut at Crystal Lake near Crow Pass deserves a visit:

:

[dschane]

Nice pics.

We in SE are weeks behind.

[cgski]

Three weeks into the Hatcher Pass season. Season started with 3 wet feet all at once on tundra - manky fun. Followed not long
after by torrential rains and high winds destroying much of the snow (all the snow below 3000') but leaving armor plate on
top of what was left. That icy surface of the armor kinda turned to carvable styrofoam over time. This weekend there was 4"
of new pow. Still pretty limited skiing, but good where it's good. Although the winds today might change that...
Here is what it looked like today.

[dschane]

Conditions are improving here in SE AK (strong winds today and looks like that's going to stick around for a bit).



And it's snot-freezing cold.

[dschane]

Here in SE, the clouds have parted (for the first time since ???), highs are in the mid-40s, and early AM conditions are for ice skaters.

[CROE]

Any conditions updates for Alaska? especially Chugach......we are paid for a ski mountaineering trip to the Eastern Chugach the first week in April.....I assume things can change a lot by then....seems like rather unusual conditions so far!?.....anyone with a Crystal Ball for conditions two months from now (hope, hope)....any thoughts? thanks, Chet

[Tomahawk]

Just called my buddy today, and told him to hold off buying plane tickets for his annual ski visit.

[Valdez Telehead]

In the center of the Chugach, Thompson Pass has tons of snow.

We'll get more snow elsewhere. Winter is only 1/2 over.

[dschane]

Conditions have been great for the last few days. There are some sun and wind affected areas, but the goods are otherwise everywhere. Some shots from this morning's pre-work turns.

A welcoming sun




And the gratuitous arse shot

[cgski]

random skiers : dust on crust on Frostbite