[MCR] Parkers Ridge, Rockies

Hi all,

Today we skied at Parkers Ridge near the Columbia Icefields. There were quite a few folks out there enjoying the good snow conditions. We ventured on North facing supported Alpine and Treeline terrain to 36 degrees incline between 2500m and 2000m. We had obscured conditions in the AM and Overcast in the PM with a few welcomed blue cracks later in the afternoon. Temperatures ranged from -4.0 to near zero and freezing levels remained below surface. Snow was on the menu today, the area received up to 10cm of low density snow over the course of the day. Winds were also on the menu, we observed Moderate winds and wind transport from the West in the alpine most of the day.

Despite the ongoing winds and blowing snow the ski conditions were actually quite good on leeward protected terrain. Travel uphill was reasonable with a 20cm ski penetration. The height of snow at treeline was around 120cm. There was much variability in snowpack thickness in the Alpine but the it felt firm and supportive in deeper lee areas. We did not see any signs of instability or any new avalanches. The only test result that we observed was a moderate to hard resistant shear down 40cm. Our main concern was the ongoing wind loading forming wind slabs in steep north facing lee slopes below ridge top.

Parkers Ridge is always a bit of a drive away however; it is a great North facing road side options when conditions are warmer elsewhere.

Cheers,

David Lussier

acmg mountain guide

http://summitmountainguides.com/

[MCR] Rockies: Hydropohbia

Had a great day on Hydrophobia yesterday and found the route to be in friendly shape as its been well travelled.  We climbed through a few sections of hollow ice in the upper third but nothing was longer than a couple of body lengths and the rest of the route provided good gear wherever you wanted it.

The driving was also in good shape with a mix of frozen gravel and hard packed snow.  It is only about an hours walk from the end of the legal trail at Waiparous Creek with the first 15 minutes being a bit icy.

Have fun!

Mike Stuart

IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide

CanadianAlpineGuides.com

[MCR] Campbell Icefields, Rockies

Hi all,

We just finished a fantastic ski touring week at the Campbell Icefields Chalet Northeast of Golden in the Western Rockies from February 27th to March 5th. We enjoyed excellent powder skiing at all elevations despite the unsettled weather and limited visibility. Temperatures ranged from -6.0C to -11.0C overnight to near zero during the day with freezing levels reaching 1800m later in the week. We skied between 2650m and 1600m (mostly supported terrain up to 40 degrees) in the headwaters of Bluewater creek and Waitabit creek. The area received 5cm of low density snow everyday accumulating to about 30cm of settled storm snow overlying the February 27th interface. This snow was accompanied by light to moderate winds from the Southwest at ridge top in the Alpine however there were very little winds at tree line and below. The average snowpack height at tree line in this region was 240cm; it was evenly distributed, firm and reminiscent of a Selkirk snowpack at this time. We measured upwards of 250cm on the Campbell Icefeilds and 300cm on the Bluewater Glacier.

Our main avalanche concerns were the storm slab & wind slabs overlying the recently buried February 27th interface. This weak layer was widespread and consisted of surface hoar to 4mm in sheltered areas and sun crust on solar aspects. Shear results were in the moderate range with sudden characteristics. Due to the lack of cohesion in the slab above it, this layer was unreactive to skier traffic until it warmed up to near freezing at treeline yesterday. This is when we started noticing some signs of instability like cracking and whumpfing as well as natural avalanche activity. We observed several natural slab avalanches to size 2 down 30-40cm on 35 to 40-degree terrain between 2300m and 2100m on solar aspects then. This prompted us to re-evaluate our terrain choices while decreasing our exposure to potential overhead avalanche hazard. This hazard was manageable however, it will likely remain a concern until the weak layer stabilizes.

All in all, a really good week of skiing with a fun group in true high season conditions!

Cheers,

David Lussier
acmg mountain guide
&
Lila Jansma
acmg ski guide

http://summitmountainguides.com/

[MCR] Columbia Mountains - Active Logging - Shaketown FSR

This notice is regarding the access to the Shaketown Bluffs rock climbing area in the Monashee Mountains south of Revelstoke.
Please be advised that active road building and logging will commence today March 3rd 2016 along the Shaketown FSR and continue throughout the spring and potentially summer.
Below is the extent of info from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

"Starting Thurs this week, blasting for a new road will take place, as well as hauling of timber. This means as per WCB regulations, the Shaketown FSR may be closed for a number of days. However the closure may only be in effect beyond the Shaketown parking. Caution should be taken when driving down the FSR as logging trucks will be heading up. Under a full load they will be moving quite slowly, but vehicles should be ready to move aside quickly. Of course the use of a radio is recommended."




Darek Glowacki
ACMG - IFMGA Mountain Guide
PO Box 699
Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
VOE 2S0
cell 250 814 8586
Darek@mail2skier.com

[MCR] Rockies: Wapta Conditions (Bow, Peyto, Balfour Hut area)

Matt Reynolds and I just got back from five days on the Wapta with the SARTECH QL5A WInter Mountain Ops course.

Synopsis: Generally unsettled weather with light snow each day and light to moderate W wind every day with some strong gusts. Temperatures often in the minus 10 range with wind chills to minus 20. Occasional Wapta style whiteouts. Several cornice collapses and isolated slab and loose avalanches noted primarily on E aspects. Fair to good travel and ski conditions. Typical snowpack depth 200 to 250cm with some thinner areas. A number of areas of open crevasses noted and we roped up for all flat and uphill travel and even some downhill travel in poor visibility. Maintained a high level of suspicion regarding crevasses and avalanches. Snowpack felt more like late January than early March… More detailed day to day discussion below.

February 27 - Bow Lake to Bow Hut: Lake now refrozen. (There were recent reports of a person falling into Bow Lake on way to Crowfoot Glades and another report of boot top water during the previous warm spell).  Travel in Canyon OK. At 11:30 witnessed a cornice collapse off the Onion that resulted in enough mass to classify as a size 2 avalanche. No  propagation on slopes below. Some cracking on flatter slopes approaching final slope below hut. Crowns from several size 2 avalanches a week or so ago above Bow Canyon still visible.

February 28 - Bow Hut to Peyto Hut: Moderate to Strong W winds overnight and light snowfall (up to 5cm). Height of snow (HS) around 300 centimeters plus on the way to the Onion. From the Onion to Peyto hut the HS is just over 200cm. Surface snow very wind affected making for fast travel but poor skiing (breakable crust) below Mt. Thompson down to hut.

February 29 - Peyto Hut to Balfour / Ascent of Vulture Peak: Another 3 - 5cm of new snow overnight with continued light to moderate W winds. Encountered two large open crevasses while traveling between Thompson and Rhondda in a whiteout. Happy to be on a rope. Good travel conditions with ski penetration varying from 10 to 20 cm. Despite recent winds, good to excellent ski quality from Olive/St. Nic col and below. A number of open crevasses below Olive / St. Ni Col. (See photo on new mountain conditions website) Fair ski quality up high on Vulture with good to excellent ski quality lower down on hero snow. Vulture Glacier has an average of 200 to 250cm of snow, less than expected!

March 1 - Balfour Hut to Bow Hut / Ascent of Onion: Another 3 - 5cm overnight with the usual light to moderate W winds. Thin windslabs forming in the alpine near ridge tops and similar features. More tedious trail breaking than yesterday with ski penetration upwards of 20cm. Occasional bouts of whiteout. New cornice collapse since yesterday fell over rocky slope on E side of Olive and produced size 2 avalanche that stopped in the top of the runout. When passing north of St. Nicholas on way back to Bow we skied near several open crevasses. (See photo on new mountain conditions website.) Probing extensively near here a week ago showed the snowpack is as thin as 100 cm near the crevasses. Many other open crevasses noted on the way from the Onion to Mt. Gordon on a recent trip. Kept the rope on until well below this area on the way down. Excellent ski quality on glacier to the Onion. Also excellent ski quality down to hut.

March 2 - Bow Hut to Bow Lake: another 5cm of new snow overnight with winds picking up in the morning again. Noted many size 1 loose sluffs in steep terrain and one size 2 loose starting above the headwall. Despite some overnight winds the first steep slope below the hut had not yet slabbed up. Some cracking and dropping down into facets and depth hoar on the flats above the canyon. Another cornice release off the East side of the Onion overnight triggered a healthy Size 2 slab 50 - 70cm deep that ran down to near the trees. Observed another new size 2 slab in the storm snow on a steep slope above the Canyon (not threatening the route) right near where several slabs released a week or two ago.) Still lots of open water in the Canyon with one creek crossing now getting a bit sketchy. Another older E facing Size 2 slab noted near alluvial fan that wasn't there four days ago (high above the flats below a cliff in rocky terrain).

Matt Reynolds MG
Cyril Shokoples MG

[MCR] Rockies - Kananaskis Ski Touring

Hi,

We toured in the Mount Murray area today and found okay skiing on north aspects with about 10-15cm of soft snow on top of a variable wind crust. There is a thin sun crust on south aspects that is buried by approx 15cm of new snow. Snowpack depths were highly variable above treeline and we turned around when we encountered thin areas connected to some larger alpine slopes. We did not see any new avalanches and there was no wind while we were out today.

All the best,

Marc Piché
403.678.7350
marc.piche@icloud.com

_______________________________________________
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[MCR] S Coast Mtns Marriage Lk and E Gravell Creek.

I spent last last 5 days touring with a group in the mountains east of Mt. Currie above the Pemberton Airport. We camped at a lake known locally as "Marriage Lk" 50 15.342 N 122 42.513 W at 1900m. It's in the most easterly branch of Gravell Cr.

The area was used by Coast Range Heliskiing for the last 15 years and it was their most visited location. As far as I know very little touring happened. This fall Blackcomb Aviation aquire the tenure. Whistler Heli Skiing now infrequently uses the location.

It's a 5min flight to our campsite. I don't know of any trails leading up the valley. The location has a good combo of tree sking to steep alpine terrain.There are some small glaciers. The longest run is 1200m. We spent 4  full days going in different directions. An easyish col provides a route from the Pemberton facing N aspect to the McWalts Glacier. A further col makes a route possible to the main Gravell Creek peaks.

I will post some pictures on the FB South Coast Touring page.

If you need more info please contact me.

Dave Sarkany

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