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This isn't "Ice Conditions" but I just thought I'd let people know how bad the snow is near Hector... Very weak snowpack but the facets are actually bonded somewhat to themselves, but not strong enough to support a skier. There is a slight sun crust under the new snow that was somewhat supportive, but not consistent.
We tried to ski up Hector on Sat Mar 1 and found bottomless facets to ground on the approach through the trees. We went partway up the avi debris on the first steep slope before some sense prevailed and we stopped trying to convince ourselves that it was OK, and we turned around. Horrible snow conditions, and would have gotten worse as the sun got on it later in the day I'm sure.
Salvaged the day (well, kind of) on the Dolomite Circuit where we found much better snow and a well-packed trail.
I think Hector is a lost cause for the next little while until some bonding takes place in the snowpack. Unless you like wallowing on skis in 3 or 4 feet of facets. Although with that said, I would bet that the snow up high would be better, judging from what we experienced around DOlomite.
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and there is a just-supportive crust over completely unconsolidated facets higher up. We got a couple *giant* settlements + cracks (one around 300m long) in the moraines before turning around. There are also lots of uncovered moraine crests and bare rock with pockets of "deeper" snow.
