Avalanche control is planned for Mt. Bourgeau (BNP) and Mt. Whymper (KNP) tomorrow February 9th. No outdoor activities in these areas tomorrow.
Thanks
Parks Canada Visitor Safety
Banff, Yoho & Kootenay National Parks
www.parksmountainsafety.ca | www.parcsecuritemontagne.ca
Sunday, February 8, 2015
[MCR] The Rockies - Junkyards rockfall
A large microwave-sized rock bounced down the the main flow of the Junkyards today around noon while we were eating lunch below and out of the way at the staging area. We waited and watched for about 20 minutes to see if it was an isolated incident, then I cleaned our ropes and left. The continued warm temperatures are obviously exposing and lubricating loose rock that should be buried and frozen in place. Warm temperatures are forecasted most of the week so be aware of fresh choss melting out and teetering over ice climbs.
Sean Isaac
ACMG Alpine Guide
CAJ Editor
T: 403-609-7590
FB: Sean Isaac Guiding
Saturday, February 7, 2015
[MCR] Coast Range, Spearhead and Duffy Regions Feb.1st-7th
We just finished a week of Apprentice Ski Guide training in the Spearhead & Duffey Region.
Terrain Travelled
The Flute/Oboe Basin, the Spearhead Glacier, Mt Cayoosh (Armchair Glacier and North Glacier) and Joffre lakes over to Anniversary Glacier.
Weather and snow conditions.
Early in the week we had 15cm of snow on top of a very hard melt freeze crust. Moderate winds formed some small wind slabs near ridge tops and wind exposed areas. These wind slabs reacted easy to skiing in slopes over 35 deg. On Feb. 5th a major weather event occurred, lasting through the remainder of the week. High freezing levels to 2100m, strong to extreme winds from the SW and heavy precipitation of 100mm was wet snow in the alpine and rain from valley bottom to 2000m. This resulted in a large natural avalanche cycle running on the melt freeze crust on all aspects at TL and above.
Travel conditions
The first part of the week was descent skiing in the ALP and open areas of TL and BTL about 1600m. Below 1600m the travel was quite rugged due to the lack of snow depth and the hard melt freeze crust. On the Armchair glacier and North Glacier the snowpack was 300cm+ and the North Glacier was very broken, a rope was a must to travel safely up and down. Lower down in the creek was rugged and had few places to cross. The other group hiked without skis from the parking lot to the Joffre Lakes due to the lack of snow. The moraine below the glacier had very little snow coverage. Boot crampons and ice axes were needed to access the glacier above. Snowpack was around 250cm+ on the glacier with more open crevasses than normal. The Anniversary glacier was the best skiing of the week. Ski crampons were useful for all trips and still would be for lower elevations when the temperatures drop and for possible wind scoured places higher up in the alpine.
Play safe
12 aspirant ski guides
Marc Piche ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide
Scott Flavelle ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide
Dan Madell ACMG Ski Guide
[MCR] Planned avalanche control, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, February 7, 2015
Parks Canada is planning to do avalanche control on Mt Stephen and Mt Bosworth in Yoho National Park, and Mt Whymper and the Simpson slide paths in Kootenay National Park on Saturday, February 7, 2015. No ice climbing or other activities in the area.
--
Parks Canada Visitor Safety
Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks
--
Parks Canada Visitor Safety
Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks
Thursday, February 5, 2015
[MCR] Selkirks- Rogers Pass, Asulkan, Saphire Col Feb 3-4th
Chad Rigby & I did an overnight trip to Sapphire Col Feb 3-4th. On Feb
3rd the valley bottom temps were 0 degrees at the base of the Mouse Trap
(1500m) and there was 30cm of storm snow over the Jan 30 rain crust. At
this elevation in the drainage we found 8-10mm surface hoar on the rain
crust. Beyond the Mouse Trap in "the Ravens" area at approximately 1900m
(west aspect) there was a size 2 natural avalanche 30-40cm deep 35m wide
which I suspect ran on surface hoar.
We did a number of quick checks for the surface hoar and we did not see
it in the open treeline and alpine areas between the Mouse Trap and
Sapphire col. The buried rain crust was only 1cm thick at 2050m and
became a hard wind layer at higher elevations, with 40cm plus of low
density storm snow on top making for deep trail breaking.
There was very little wind effect in this area and the storm snow had
not settled into a slab yet. I suspect this will change rapidly with the
current snowfall and forecasted rise in temps.
As we left the Asulkan drainage we noticed a new slab avalanche which I
suspect was a skier accidental down 30cm, 20m wide in a steep creek in the
"Mushroom people" area. Again I think this was on a pocket of surface
hoar on the rain crust.
Have a great winter
Kirsten
Kirsten Knechtel
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
kirsten.knechtel@gmail.com
www.kirstenknechtel.com
--
On 15-02-02 7:38 PM, "Public Mountain Conditions Report"
<mcr@informalex.org> wrote:
>Just out of O¹Hara today. The ice climbs on Wiwaxy peak are about as big
>as I have ever seen them.
>
>"Sad and Beautiful World" looks good and has a parallel line that I don¹t
>remember seeing before. (Happy and Ugly World?) "Cool Water Good Stone"
>is ice from top to bottom. (Cool Water, No Stone?) "Girls Day Out" is fat
>(best leave that one alone:) and the snow on the approach was rock hard
>as of this afternoon.
>
>Ski travel was good and we had no real concerns on fairly steep terrain
>treeline and below. There must be some windslabs up high though as the
>wind picked up today. The road was beautifully track set for classic and
>skate skiing this afternoon if you want to get your nordic on.
>
>Larry Stanier
>Mountain Guide
>laristan@telus.net
>_______________________________________________
>These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted
>them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors,
>omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time
>and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain.
>Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased
>safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in
>planning trips or making decisions in the field.
>See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
>See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name
>from this list.
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from this list.
3rd the valley bottom temps were 0 degrees at the base of the Mouse Trap
(1500m) and there was 30cm of storm snow over the Jan 30 rain crust. At
this elevation in the drainage we found 8-10mm surface hoar on the rain
crust. Beyond the Mouse Trap in "the Ravens" area at approximately 1900m
(west aspect) there was a size 2 natural avalanche 30-40cm deep 35m wide
which I suspect ran on surface hoar.
We did a number of quick checks for the surface hoar and we did not see
it in the open treeline and alpine areas between the Mouse Trap and
Sapphire col. The buried rain crust was only 1cm thick at 2050m and
became a hard wind layer at higher elevations, with 40cm plus of low
density storm snow on top making for deep trail breaking.
There was very little wind effect in this area and the storm snow had
not settled into a slab yet. I suspect this will change rapidly with the
current snowfall and forecasted rise in temps.
As we left the Asulkan drainage we noticed a new slab avalanche which I
suspect was a skier accidental down 30cm, 20m wide in a steep creek in the
"Mushroom people" area. Again I think this was on a pocket of surface
hoar on the rain crust.
Have a great winter
Kirsten
Kirsten Knechtel
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
kirsten.knechtel@gmail.com
www.kirstenknechtel.com
--
On 15-02-02 7:38 PM, "Public Mountain Conditions Report"
<mcr@informalex.org> wrote:
>Just out of O¹Hara today. The ice climbs on Wiwaxy peak are about as big
>as I have ever seen them.
>
>"Sad and Beautiful World" looks good and has a parallel line that I don¹t
>remember seeing before. (Happy and Ugly World?) "Cool Water Good Stone"
>is ice from top to bottom. (Cool Water, No Stone?) "Girls Day Out" is fat
>(best leave that one alone:) and the snow on the approach was rock hard
>as of this afternoon.
>
>Ski travel was good and we had no real concerns on fairly steep terrain
>treeline and below. There must be some windslabs up high though as the
>wind picked up today. The road was beautifully track set for classic and
>skate skiing this afternoon if you want to get your nordic on.
>
>Larry Stanier
>Mountain Guide
>laristan@telus.net
>_______________________________________________
>These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted
>them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors,
>omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time
>and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain.
>Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased
>safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in
>planning trips or making decisions in the field.
>See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
>See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name
>from this list.
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from this list.
Monday, February 2, 2015
[MCR] Rockies-Lake O'Hara Ice and snow- February 2nd.
Just out of O'Hara today. The ice climbs on Wiwaxy peak are about as big as I have ever seen them.
"Sad and Beautiful World" looks good and has a parallel line that I don't remember seeing before. (Happy and Ugly World?) "Cool Water Good Stone" is ice from top to bottom. (Cool Water, No Stone?) "Girls Day Out" is fat (best leave that one alone:) and the snow on the approach was rock hard as of this afternoon.
Ski travel was good and we had no real concerns on fairly steep terrain treeline and below. There must be some windslabs up high though as the wind picked up today. The road was beautifully track set for classic and skate skiing this afternoon if you want to get your nordic on.
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide
laristan@telus.net
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from this list.
"Sad and Beautiful World" looks good and has a parallel line that I don't remember seeing before. (Happy and Ugly World?) "Cool Water Good Stone" is ice from top to bottom. (Cool Water, No Stone?) "Girls Day Out" is fat (best leave that one alone:) and the snow on the approach was rock hard as of this afternoon.
Ski travel was good and we had no real concerns on fairly steep terrain treeline and below. There must be some windslabs up high though as the wind picked up today. The road was beautifully track set for classic and skate skiing this afternoon if you want to get your nordic on.
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide
laristan@telus.net
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from this list.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
[MCR] Coast Range, Spearhead and Duffey Regions, Jan 28-30
We just finished a week of Apprentice Ski Guide training in the Spearhead & Duffey Region.
Last weeks rain event and well above seasonal temperatures was followed by a partially cloudy to clear, cool and dry spell with freezing levels to valley bottom. This has left the area with a well developed 5-10cm supportive rain crust on all aspects and elevations.
During the last three days we travelled between 800m and 2400m. Snowpack depths varied with below treeline elevations being well below normal at 50-100cm with deep rain runnels. A thick layer of 4mm surface hoar was found below treeline growing on the crust. Above 2000m the snowpack depth is more typical for this time of year. We probed 250-300cm of well settled snowpack on the glaciers. Crevasse coverage was generally good with large crevasses still very obvious. There are very large cornices on lee ridge lines.
No avalanche activity was observed since a natural cycle during the rain event. The the crust has locked down the upper snowpack and the warm temperatures and rain penetrated into the mid pack and it looked strong and well settled in all the test profiles we did. At this point fall hazard on the icy crust was our greatest concern especially in areas where the wind had polished a hard surface ice.
The travelling conditions were challenging with hard crust and rain runnels on all aspects and elevations. Uphill travel generally required ski crampons and boot crampons and ice axes were used on steeper slopes.
Trips were done in the Blackcomb area on N & S aspects of Mt Decker, the Trorey glacier, and the Spearhead glacier. In the Duffey we skied on Mt Chief Pascall, the lower slopes of Cayoosh Mountain and Rohr lake.
Have fun ski mountaineering out there!
14 aspirent guides
+
Kirsten Knechtel
Keith Reid
Helen Sovdat
Matt Peter
ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guides
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)