So the storm blows in --- wet snow at its onset not toooooo much wind then a coversion to alpine winter conditions. Overnight lows in the low 1's. High today 18 w/15-22mph winds. With all things considered I had this insane notion I could hike my kite to the massive summit of Mt Baldy in the Little Belts which usually blows bare or leaves so many turtleheads as kiting it in inconcievable. I thought this wet spring storm just may offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Nearest snotel says 9" in the last 12 hrs Yeah!!!. Huge broad summit(like 2 miles long x 1/2 mile wide consistently

5 mile skin in ~ 4,000 vertical ft overall but the turtleheads are still there

Had the best ride out though. Long narrow chute winding down for ~ 1600' until it flattened. Maybe not such a kitemare except that I didn't get to kite.

What the hell is a turtlehead? was it that cold?

You know the arcade game where the turtleheads pop up through holes & you smash em down with a mallet - well these are intermittent rocks poking up through the snow. The smashing kinda happens in reverse though - on your board or if you really get hung up on 1 - on your hips or side when you crash from coming to a sudden halt.

There were just enough poking through that day to prevent any serious thought of kiting that summit. It really is the most immense open summit I know of anywhere & if it ever happens right would be an amazing spot to kite. It'll need wet heavy snowfall of ~2' without the typical scouring winds that happen there & it would be doable.