[MCR] Rockies - Cirque Peak - March 29th

We skied the north couloir of Cirque Peak via Helen creek. 

The approach trail was supportive and travel was fast on a well established trail. Forays outside of that path below 2100m were quickly aborted as we encountered unsupportive isothermal snow.

We chose to climb the south ridge of Cirque Peak and did not have to use ski or boot crampons as we had good footing between the rock and a mix of moist snow, thin ice and drifted powder patches. The lower temperatures forecast for the next few days could change the shape of that approach significantly as it freezes up. 

The ringbolts were in good shape and we chose to lower two members of our party 40m over the initial shallow rocky section to where the couloir opens and snow depth increases. The third member of our party rappelled down 25m and used the footsteps of the previous skiers to make it down to our established ledge.

We experienced minimal surface sluffing on the descent.

We would have had excellent skiing conditions on the North Glacier is we could see anything. By midday cloud base dropped to about 2000m and precipitation and winds increased. Ski penetration was 20cm over a dry snow layer. On our ski line we did not encounter any unstable snow. It felt like great winter skiing.  However we suspect that windslabs were building in areas loaded by the Strong Westerly winds above 2200m. There was an average of 200cm of snow on the glacier.

We retreated from the white back the highway via the north side of the col between Observation Subpeak and Cirque Peak. At 2300m the supportive melt freeze crust gave way to isothermal snow and made for a challenging skiing. 

We did not see any new avalanches.

with Stéphane Gagnon ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide

Philippe Gautier

ACMG Ski Guide

Currently in Alberta

phil@nevexp.com

[MCR] Info: Rockies; Peyto and Mistaya

Travelled into Peyto Hut on March 25th. Thin, rock hard snow up to the
Moraine from the parking lot thanks to good overnight freeze recovery. The
lake had no water below the snow surface at this time and was quick to
traverse. The moraine had a small windslab release in the usual small gully
climber's right of the boot pack section that looked to be at least 3 days
old. Thin snowpack on the Peyto approach, as thin as 60cm even 1km up from
the toe, but thickening to a more consistent 175cm by about 2600m. Scoured
and windslab in the Baker/Trapper col on the east approach on the 26th, but
a consistent pleasant 20cm of ski pen down the Baker/Wildcat Glacier to
Mistaya lodge. On the 27th, with scattered cloud and strong solar, only
small point releases on solar aspects below 2200m but 2 notable windslab
releases from NE steep slopes. A size 2, 40cm deep slab from below Nexus
peak (2800m) toward the Ophidian glacier, only running down to 30 degree
terrain, and a size 3 windslab, 200m wide, crown avg 100cm, from 2500m
elevation off the ridge immediately south of the Baker/Nexus col, from
steep terrain, again terminating in 30 degree track. The rising freezing
levels and occasional bursts of solar on the 28th created a new melt freeze
crust to 2300m and solar slopes became moist to as deep as 50cm at 2100,
where the HS is still 175cm. With limited visibility it was hard to track
where the activity was coming from but loose snow avalanches, small cornice
failures, and point releases occurred throughout the day, though none
larger than size 2. Also on the 28th, warm temps and precip flooded Peyto
lake, with reported misery for the crossing in water and slush, with some
parties opting for the shore circumnavigation. Our group had a refreeze of
Peyto lake for our exit on the 29th, and were able to skate ski back
across. Good snow for the ski out to 2200m with up to 10cm of fresh snow,
then isothermic below that level. Treacherous, to ground penetration for
our navigation on the moraine descent, then a circuitous route from the
base of the moraine to the lake on rapidly diminishing islands of snow.

Even with the 175cm at Mistaya lodge (2040m), and mostly near zero temps.,
there were sightings of mosquitoes on the 28th, so expect emerging
grizzlies to be an April ski touring hazard.


Landon Shepherd ASG
Max Darrah MG














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[MCR] Coast Mountains - Cerise Creek - March 26th

A little late but it could be useful.

As of March 26th access to Keith's Hut via Cerise Creek was easy. Only 20mins of walking in ski boots were necessary before putting on skins at the edge of the cut block. 

One creek crossing involved sidestepping but was easily managed. 

Philippe Gautier

ACMG ski guide

Currently in Alberta

E phil@nevexp.com

[MCR] Rockies - Surprise Pass - March 28th

Skied Surprise Pass today in excellent conditions with one other person.

Approach

At the saddleback trailhead there was 1cm of wet snow. 

At 2100m there was 10cms of new moist snow over a 3cm melt-freeze crust which was partially supportive.

At 2300m there was 15cm of cold snow over a 3-5cm partially supportive melt freeze crust. At times we would punch through to the wet snow below to about 30cm maximum. 

The gusting strong westerly winds started pressing the surface snow but there were no signs of slab formation during our morning approach in the Sheol Valley. The new snow was bonding well to the crust below.

We bootpacked up the gully towards the pass with relative ease. The melt-freeze crust was again only partially supportive and some of the time we would be up to our knees kicking in steps. 

We did not need to use ski crampons, boot crampons or ice axes. 

Travel all the way to Surprise Pass fast and easy.

Between the cloud we saw some but mostly heard many loose snow avalanches (to sz 1.5) rolling off the steep unskiable faces of Mt. Haddo which made for a ominous approach in the low visibility.

Descent

A 15cm soft slab had formed in the top 15 meters of the north facing bowl but it did not present a hazard to our group. 

Until 2100m we skied in 25cm of low density cold snow over a supportive melt-freeze crust.

From 2100m to 1900m, 15cm of moist snow sits on a supportive melt-freeze crust.

Ski quality was excellent until 1900 meters at which elevation the snowpack becomes instintaniously isothermal and unsupportive and will swallow your skis or board. It goes without saying that the last 100m or so to the summer trail were the most trying of our outing.

We took the hiking trail out as the lake looks like a gamble. We were out by 1pm and temperatures were rising and the sun was starting to show itself. 

Philippe Gautier 

ACMG Ski Guide

Currently in Alberta

E phil@nevexp.com

[MCR] Bow- Yoho Traverse, March 24th-26th, 2015

We spent the last three days traversing from Bow Lake to the Little Yoho Valley and then out via Takakkaw Falls today. Here is what we found:

Bow - Yoho:

On the 24th, we had a perfect spring day with a good freeze (`-10 at the parking lot at 0730), light winds and good visibility. We did most of our distance this day, traversing from Bow Lake over to the Little Yoho Valley. 

Snowpack depths on the glacier ranged from 80 cms in scoured areas to 3m+ in thicker areas. We kept the rope on for most of the glaciated areas and were happy to have it due to the variable snow depths.

10-20 cms of new snow with little to no wind effect lay on the surface making for excellent ski quality but deeper trail-breaking than is often encountered on the windswept Wapta.

The temperatures stayed cool this day and our only avalanche concern was isolated windslabs in extreme alpine terrain. We rated the danger Low in the alpine for the 24th.

Little Yoho Valley:

We attempted to ski up to Presidents Pass on the morning of the 25th, but turned around due to poor visibility. 

Snowpack depths on this glacier were variable from 60 cms - 3m+ with a generally weak snowpack. Because of this, we were cautious with travelling unroped on this glacier as there are many open crevasses here in the summer.

Light snow and poor visibility kept us at lower elevations for the rest of the trip. We suspected windslab development in the alpine with moderate to strong West winds at ridgetop. 

On the ski out this AM, there was a few cms of fresh snow down to ~1500m, but the temperatures were rising steadily...

Ian Jackson, Steve Holeczi &Tim Haggarty

ACMG Mountain Guides

Parks Canada Visitor Safety

[MCR] SPAW expanded

Upon further investigation and with an updated weather forecast, Avalanche Canada has expanded the Special Public Avalanche Warning issued on Tuesday to include the following areas:

·         The north and eastern portion of the South Coast Inland forecast region (essentially all of this region except the Cascade ranges)

·         The northern two-thirds of the South Columbia (more or less north of highway 6 between Lumby and New Denver and north of highway 31A between New Denver and Kaslo.

 

You can see a map with the areas under the SPAW here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zTBQ_p2Ua-cc.kyl1d_qa3PRI

 

You can see the SPAW itself here: http://www.avalanche.ca/news/VRHTjCUAADQcpVdL/spaw-150324

 

We continue to monitor conditions over the next few days and will further revise the SPAW if warranted.

 

Use Avalanche Canada’s iOS and Android apps to submit and share information on the Mountain Information Network or use the web app at: www.avalanche.ca > Avalanche Information > Submit Information

 

Karl Klassen – Manager, Public Avalanche Warning Service

Avalanche Canada 

kklassen@avalanche.ca

[MCR] Selkirk Mountains-Rogers Pass

Just spent a few days at Asulkan hut. March 23-25.

Conditions are already changing with todays storm. As of this morning these are my observations.

With probing above Asulkan hut 250-120 cm snowpack.
40-60cm storm snow from last week overlies the March 19th weak facet layer.  Although no sudden shears in tested areas there is a striking resembles to a Rocky Mountain snowpack with about 40 cm of weak snow below. Trust in steep slopes especially with over head hazards like cornices is very low.  Added loading from more snow and warm temps will keep my trust low for a while.  With conservative terrain choices we still found good skiing.

 No settlements, no new slab avalanches, some impressive large avalanches in the alpine N-NE aspects about 3 days old and some snow balling on steep solar aspects to size 1.

It was windy, -5 and about 5cm on the ground apon departure.  Skiing held in there until about 1600m(Just above the mouse trap)breakable catchy crust below.

The ski out is rather bumpy, the new snow has helped.

Freezing level was on the rise. 

Cheers to your next good turn!

Merrie-Beth Board
ACMG Ski and Aspirant Alpine Guide.

Merrie-Beth Board
ACMG Ski and Apprentice Alpine Guide
250-439-9449