[MCR] Kutetl Creek, Selkirk Mountains near Whitewater Ski resort

Spent the day skiing under blue skies in the Kutetl Creek drainage
behind Ymir Peak above the Whitewater Ski resort. We were on a mostly
east aspect and our elevation range was from 2300m down to 1800m. Air
temperatures ranged from about -20C at the lodge in the morning to -12C
just before noon at our lowest elevation. The wind was calm in the
valley and light from the north-east on the ridge tops.

Surface hoar has been growing up to 20mm mostly in the trees below
2000m. Most of it was lying flat on the surface, perhaps wind or the
warmth from the sun knocked it over.

The crust from the most recent warming event was evident, though the new
snow on top had enough carry to keep us from crunching down on it. The
skiing was excellent top to bottom, even off the summit of Half Dome
with only the first few turns in wind-pressed snow. Traveling up was
fast with ski pen being only 10-15cm.

In a snow pit dug below Half Dome at 2250m on a north-east aspect we
found an old buried surface hoar layer down about 80cm. Stability tests
produced no results even on this layer. It did fail with a clean shear
though, when the column was pulled off by hand.

Rider traffic increased throughout the day as two other parties joined
us in the Kutetl drainage. Ymir bowl was looking pretty tracked up by
the time we skied back to the resort. A small slide came out of the
Dog's Leg, probably triggered by a rider. Couldn't tell if it was from
a slough, a slab or a cornice fall.

Enjoy the sun tomorrow, looks like the clouds will be back on
Wednesday. Play Safe.

Craig Hollinger,

ACMG Assistant Ski Guide.
_______________________________________________
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.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.

[MCR] Rockies, Snowline and Moonlight Falls

My fellow guide, John Freeman, and I guided Moonlight Falls and Snowline today, Jan 31st. Cold this morning, -35 C, and it looks like tonight is loading up to be just as cold (I'll be taking mitts and lots of layers again in the morning). The trail into the climbs is fine and walkable after the last two snowfalls. The climbs are in good shape, a couple of 13 cm screws for the first bit of Snowline is a good thing.

Happy trails,

Barry Blanchard

UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide

http://www.barryblanchard.ca

http://www.yamnuska.com

barryb3@telus.net

1 403 609 4615

cell 1 403 609 1321

[MCR] South Coast, Duffy Lake, Mt Chief Pascal

I skied with a group on the N slopes of Chief Pascal yesterday.

 

We had totally blue sky for most of the day. Air temps where between -16 and -18.  At first there was a strong north wind which blew plumes of snow off the higher peaks, later this calmed to a light easterly. We found a strong temperature gradient in the upper 35cm of the snow pack.

 

Below Tree Line we had 20cm of light snow over  tree bombed icy crude, however the cut blocks provided surprisingly good sking.

 

At Tree Line there was generally 30cm of light (Fist and Four Finger) density snow over thin decomposing rain crust. Here in a protected opening at 6200 feet we dug into the snow and got consistent Moderate Compression Tests which fractured irregularly just above the crust.

At the same location the January 4  Surface Hoar was 90-110cm below the surface.  We got  inconsistent Hard Compression Tests on this layer, but it failed to fracture with a Rotschblock Test and it also failed to perform during an Extended Colum Test.

Skiing was better than good at this elevation! There was lots of evidence of the past avalanche cycle.

 

In the Alpine the snow was very wind effected. Many slopes where scoured to expose a hard icy surface, and there was evidence of recent (<24 hrs) Natural Avalanches failing in cross loaded features. Across the valley on a North aspect slope of Joffre we saw what looked like a Sz 1-2 slab triggered that day by a group of skiers in a cross loaded feature.  We cut a 1500-2000kg cornice nose into NE aspect  gully 300m NW of the summit of Chief Pascal. It only created a Sz 1 sluff as it tumbled through the hard wind effected snow.    

 

Good sking at Tree Line.

 

Dave Sarkany

 SG

[MCR] Rogers Pass Conditiond Jan 23-28

January 23-28

Spent the last 5 days in Rogers Pass on the Assistant Ski Guide Training course. Here is what we found:

The week was generally mild with highs of 0 and lows of -5. Freezing levels remained below 1450m throughout the week. Several weak pulses produced 20cm of snow. Winds were light from the S - SW, but the 27th and 28th saw mod-strong winds from the South at alpine and treeline elevations.

We skied in Connaught Creek, Little Sifton area, the Hermit, McGill Shoulder, Loop Brook, Bonney Glacier, the Illecillewaet and a trip up to the Asulkan hut on the 27th and 28th. 

Warming temps and moderate winds had settled 50cm of storm snow from the previous week, creating upside down conditions and soft slabs in exposed areas at all elevations. Moderate test results within this storm snow were seen throughout the week, with the primary concern being the January 19th layer down 40-60cm. Strong winds from the South over the past 2 days have created hard slabs in the Alpine and exposed treeline areas. Snow depths averaged 250 with variable depths on the glaciers ranging from 160 to 300+cm. 

The deeper surface hoar layers from early and mid January were observed, but were not reactive in tests. They remained a concern as far as smaller avalanches stepping down to these layers, producing larger, more destructive avalanches. Evidence of an earlier avalanche cycle running on these layers and stepping down to the November rain crust at the base of the snowpack were observed throughout the week, with debris seen at the end of runouts in the Asulkan valley. 

We managed our exposure to large overhead hazards and treated all steep slopes at treeline and above with caution. 15cm of new snow on the ground at the Pass this morning (Jan 29).

Jason Billing

Assistant Alpine Guide

[MCR] Avalanche Control, East end of Mt Rundle

Avalanche Control will be occurring on the East end of MT Rundle on Jan 31st between 11am and 1pm.  The road through to the Spray Lakes will be closed during this time as well Grassi Lakes trail will also be closed.

 

No climbing or hiking in this area while the control work is taking place. 

 

Thanks for your co-operation!

 

Mike Koppang

Public Safety Specialist

Kananaskis Country, AB

http://twitter.com/KCPublicSafety

 

 

[MCR] Kananaskis Country - Commonwealth Shoulder

Hello,

I was skiing with 2 friends on The northeast shoulder of Commonwealth peak,
which is southeast of tent ridge, on saturday, January 29th.

Time: started at 10am finished at 5pm
temperature: -12 at 10am, -11 at 5pm
winds: calm all day. north winds were starting to move snow at 5pm as we
left.
Sky: was obscured (could not see mountaintops) for the majority of the day
New snow: 50cm of new snow. VERY low density.
elevation range: 1875m to 2280m
avalanches: we observed only small (o.5 to size 1) loose snow avalanches,
but as I say, viability was not good

Snowpack: above 2200m the 50cm of new snow was sitting on a hard temperature
crust. This crust was so hard that it was difficult to get purchase with
your skis for uptracking. You would instantly sink through the low density
storm snow and rest on the crust.

OF PARTICULAR NOTE: on west aspects above 2100m the storm snow was sitting
on top of a moist snowpack. The storm snow was dry, and the entire rest of
the snowpack to ground was moist. I dug to ground with my hand and could
make a moist snowball out of the depth hoar and facets with one squeeze. on
this west aspect we had numerous whoomps and settlements due to the moist
lower snow. This moist snow was so unconsolidated that I fell through to
ground numerous times.

after discovering this, we stuck to north aspects (where the moinst snow did
not exist) and enjoyed the best snow quality of my life with 50cm on top of
a supportive midpack in very low angled trees/glades.

snow stability was poor and will get worse if the area receives wind.

Very conservative terrain choices and elimination of overhead hazards were
critical to staying safe.

Hope this is useful information.

Cheers,

Neil Warren
ASG, CAA2, DHG

www.alpinethreadworks.com
_______________________________________________
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.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.

[MCR] King Creek

I was climbing in King Creek today with a client, and there was about 30 cm of new snow in the last 24 hours. The snow was continuing all day. There was lots of sluffing happening all day and on the way back in the afternoon one of the gullies avalanched and was big enough to have buried someone. Something to consider when hiking in there thinking that it is an area of lo hazard. We did have avalanche transceivers, shovel and probe and crossed these baths one at a time (quickly).

Marco Delesalle
Mountain Guide
www.greatdividemountaineering.com
www.internationalguidebureau.com

_______________________________________________
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.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.