anybody think that the nook leading up to the football field by the traditional route will be safely passable after this snow? or am I pushing my luck? how about the scree gully going up O'Malley? Too dicey? i say this with confidence that the gully is pretty stable, but unsure of it. I've had one friend tell me he's never seen washout underneath the first nook heading up the the field.

Ive never seen any there either or heard of any avalanches on that specific area. Although I wouldn't say that means its bombproof.

I've seen slides off O'Malley Saddle. Safer to climb among the rocks slightly to the northwest.

hmmm, i honestly don't know if it should make me feel nervous or not. maybe the fact I plan on going up there at night makes me extra cautious. you say climbing up among the rocks, you're just talking about veering left to get up the saddle right?

That's right. Veer left and stay out of the gully and out from under the steep face of vertical snow at the saddle.

I've seen slides in that saddle as well. Definitely best to stay among the rocks, plus more fun anyways.

I was up there on Friday during the first snow fall on the way back to O'malley falls, the base then was pretty stable, but towards the top of the gully there were a few sections that were hollow sounding, more than likely from wind deposits over the cornice on the top. When we came down there was about 4 inches of fresh snow. It seemed to be bonding okay to the existing base, but time will tell. And a definite yes, that gully does slide, I was up there helping teach a mountaineering class many years ago and a lone student was sliding down on the "crusty" snow just on the edge of the gully and shot a crack all the way across the face and the whole thing came down. Luckily we were all standing on terra firma in a couple of inches of powder. The slab the guy was sliding on was maybe 2 inches thick. At the crown of the slide over 100 feet away, I would guess that it was over 4 feet. Definitelt more than 4 inches up there now. Suggest a test pit or walk around.

thanks a ton dude. I was thinking of cancelling for this wednesday. gonna wait a week

Cool, glad everyone else piped up, guess ive just always had good conditions!