Early early season

Since we last posted the snow has come to Leadville and the skiing has started.

The common equation for skiing in the Sawatch at this time of year seems to be:

Depth hoar + wind blown slab  = avalanche avoidance = wallowing around in facets in the willows.

 Yup, thats wind slab alright.

 I think Mike perhaps has a better idea with the nordic skiing.

Thanks to all the folks who were silly enough to get up in the middle of the night for ski adventuring. 

Tomorrow I fly from Denver to Ecuador.  Currently the wind is hustling outside, and the snow report is looking promising. I might be a little jealous of missing out, but the nice thing about Leadville is that it is a hullava long season. I will be back wallowing in the willows before I know it.