Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Treasure Bowls

 After a great ski tour on Saturday I was eager to get back in the mountains, so yesterday I again headed up above South Lake. This time up to the Treasure Bowls (center in photo).


 Solar aspects are corning up, some north aspects hold smooth windboard and/or wintery snow. but many aspects are covered with "penitentes", 2" to 6" fin like features caused by melting from the sun. Frozen they provide poor skiing.  Melted they ski a little better, but not nearly as good as velvety corn.

This little southeast facing drainage is transitioning to smooth corn providing fair to occasionally good skiing.

A steady south breeze kept it cool at higher elevations, so I found a little shelter and soaked in the scenery.


The "main attraction" in the Treasure Bowls area is this fine run down to the northwestern most of the Treasure Lakes chain. I found good turns on winter snow the top half, then traversed far right to find good corn snow.

Lower down I stumbled upon this interesting snow sculpture formed by warm, sticky snow rolling down a slope.


 Soon followed by a sweet Bald Eagle sighting over South Lake. Another enjoyable day in the hills!

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