Whale's Tail was perfect today. Don't try to drive too far up the road when the snow begins in earnest, a couple of Subarus got stuck in the morning. Snow from Gibson Lake Trailhead to around treeline is all powder, and we put in a track. From treeline to the bottom of the couloir the route weaves around some, and near Gibson Lake it goes south to avoid cliffs below the couloir. I put a booter all the way up climber's right side of the couloir. Snow was several inches of powder with wet to icy snow underneath. The bottom and top had some front pointing. The summit ridge has some rocks and thin snow, beware if skiing. The couloir was in great shape for skiing (my partner skied, I was on snowshoes).
Gear: flotation mandatory, ice axe and/or crampons highly desired (especially if steps are frozen in the morning). I didn't use my axe as anything more than a short trekking pole but personally found crampons useful in a few short sections.
   
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