[MCR] Conditions in the Southern Purcells

Just back from guiding a ski touring week in the Southern Purcells, east of Kaslo in the Powder Creek drainage. The week started with cool winter conditions then transitioned to spring mid week. 35cm of snow fell over the week with very little wind. Freezing levels went from vallley bottoms to 1500m on most days. March 25th was the exception, as freezing levels rose to create moist snow to 2200m on all aspects. The surface crust formed when this snow froze was buried by 15cm of new snow over the past few days.

The snowpack is quite well settled, and we found no significant shears in the upper snowpack. The weak layers formed by the mid winter drought are buried down 160-180cm in this drainage. In some locations, this layer consists of well preserved surface hoar and still produced moderate to hard sudden deep tap test results.

Early in the week, we observed a couple isolated natural slab avalanches to size 2 from steep north facing terrain at treeline and in the Alpine. Numerous wet and dry loose releases to size 1.5 were observed from steep terrain at all aspects and elevations.

Ski conditions were excellent on shaded aspects, and we travelled extensively from the Alpine to valley bottoms. Because of the uncertainty that exists with the buried persistent weak layer, we avoided aggressive, unsupported terrain, particularly on March 25th when the warm weather arrived.

Enjoy the spring!

Ramin Sherkat

ACMG Ski Guide

Roger Yim

ACMG ASG