[MCR] Rockies - Yoho

Adding some observations to Mark's report.

 Skied some steep SE slopes on Mt Whymper today between 1500 m and 2800m. 10 - 15cm cold faceted powder.

Directly observed a natural size 2 solar triggered sluff in the main SE slide path off Whymper.

 Temps above 0 deg C in the sun on the peak at 2800m with snow melting off rocks. (-20 deg C at car in the am).

 Surface hoar growing to  10mm at 1750m and below. 

Sent on behalf of:

 Scott Thumlert

ACMG ASG

 

by

Peter Tucker
Executive Director
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[MCR] Rockies: Yoho

We skied in Yoho Park yesterday, on south and northeast aspects between 1300 and 2450 m. 

We found excellent boot top skiing conditions with no slab avalanche issues where we were. Bulletins are reporting a Wind Slab problem and I'm sure there are some lurking out there in some higher elevation locations but we didn't see any in our zone.

The greatest problem I have been noticing, and it has been a trend on my tours over the past couple of weeks, is that of cornices. Every day I have been out I have noticed recent cornice falls, up to size 2. Yesterday I saw two of them that probably ran in the previous 24 hours. Although the cornices that failed were relatively small, they pushed a lot of loose snow with them and ran surprisingly far down slope, no doubt because of the weak facets and surface hoar on top of the snowpack.

I have a feeling that the big temperature swings between night and day are triggering these cornices. Yesterday we saw a swing from -28 to -6 over a few hours. So the classic "critical factors" of a rapid rise of 3 degrees in an hour, or a temperature rise into the -5 range, seem to hold. Pull your thermometer out and reduce your exposure time under cornices.

Mark Klassen

ACMG-IFMGA Mountain Guide

Banff-Lake Louise, Canada

Alpinism | » Revelstoke Long Weekend

[MCR] Rockies - Ice Conditions - Kicking Horse Canyon

We hoped for warmer temps this morning by travelling west but it took until noon for the cold to break.

Pretty Nuts is in great shape. It is brittle from the recent cold where the water isn't flowing. The rock slab right of the classic P2 curtain offers 70m of protectable WI2. Both P3 options are in and take good protection.

Riverview, Essondale, and The Asylum look to be in good shape.

The parking on the south side of the TransCanada 1.5km west of Pretty Nuts is plowed offering a shorter approach than the Kicking Horse rest area. There is a boot pack behind the diversion wall so that most of the highway walk can be avoided.

Brent Peters
Alpine Guide
PeakStratagem.com

Pretty Nuts

[MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Rogers Pass - Dec.29-2015

Amazing day in Rogers Pass today!

 

First full day of sunshine as a persistent looking ridge builds in.

 

I observed several small (size 1-1.5) loose dry avalanches that were triggered by the sun on steep rocky solar aspects in the afternoon - also lots of roller balls-tree bombs as the trees started to shed the recent storm snow. I would keep my eyes out for overhead solar over the next few days as things shed after this recent storm cycle.

 

Other than that it appears that there is minimal wind effect, though I noted some downflow (katabatic)  wind effect in an Alpine bowl, that mostly just added some texture to the surface - this may increase over the next few days as this ridge of high pressure takes hold.

 

Tracksetting is reasonable with @30cms ski penetration - however the unconsolidated (faceted) surface snow makes for frustrating tracksetting on steeper side hills (I am taking my ski crampons tomorrow!).

 

I am sure things will get skied up pretty quickly - but for now it looks like there are a few turns left to be had.

 

Lots of cars in the parking lots - but somehow I did not see anybody all day ;-) !

 

Merry new year to all,

 

Scott Davis

ACMG-IFMGA Mountain Guide

[MCR] Ice Conditions-Snivelling Gulley

Date: December 28th 2015

Location: Weeping Wall Area, Banff National Park

Route: Snivelling Gulley

Gear. Standard Ice Rack 70m rope X 2

Route Conditions Report:

It was -13 at the base of the route at 10:30am with the sun already high in the sky and warming our backs. The past cold snap has allowed for this route to finally form in good guiding conditions.

Pitch 1 65m: Good ice coverage over this pitch with only a short section of separation and running water between the ice and rock. Good ice on climbers left for a ice screw anchor avoiding the over head hazard of the daggers on the climbers right wall.

Pitch 2 60m: Running water under sections of snow and ice. Fun scramble with short sections of stemming. Belayed under the roof on the left side with good ice screw anchor. Again avoiding the daggers on climbers right.

NOTE: Snivelling Direct is IN and touching the ground. All bolts are covered. Looking FAT!

Pitch 3 60m: Last pitch is in fine shape with good protection all the way up. Only the last few meters are thin with sections of low angle rock and snow. Belay from tree high climbers left.

Descent: All stations are in good shape but I do recommend a 70m rope X 2 so you can cleanly rappel the last pitch to the ground 65+ Meters.

Snow Conditions Report:

Temp: -13 @ 10:30  Sky: Few  Wind: Light NW

I observed no New naturals over the day, Solar output was strong for this time of year but the snow surface remained cold and dry within my observation area. No structure or significant layers to report within the upper over-head pockets that threaten this climb. Boot penetration was to Ground. (Lot's of snow for transport) No Surface Crust Observed.

Safe Travels Yall! o-ya Merry Christmas 😉

Ryan Titchener

ACMG Apt Alpine Guide

CAA Level 2

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[MCR] Kootenay Pass, Southern Selkirks

Hi all,

I spent the last few days guiding in the Kootenay Pass area. As most other areas in southeastern BC right now the skiing here is excellent. We skied supported open glades and planar slopes up to 38 degrees between 2200m and 1450m in the headwaters of Lost creek and Wolf creek. The average height of snow at treeline in this area is about 170cm and the recent settled storm snow amounts overlying the December 10th layer area in the 50-70 cm range. This storm snow displays a perfect stiffness gradient with widespread low density powder overlying an increasingly stiffer and supportive snowpack. We observed very minor wind affect even at ridge top. We saw no new avalanches and no signs of instability. 

 

Today we did a test profile at 2150m on a south aspect (Missile Ridge) and observed a moderate resistant shear down 35cm on decomposing surface hoar to 3mm and a hard sudden result down 55cm in soft sugary facetted snow just below the December 10th layer. The crust at this location was a 2 cm thick ice layer. Despite the Moderate avalanche hazard and fantastic skiing in this area, we only saw a few people out there today.  The incoming weather pattern is pretty stable and conditions should remain similar for most of the week.

Enjoy the great skiing & happy holidays!

David Lussier

acmg mountain guide

www.summitmountainguides.com

[MCR] Selkirks, Rogers Pass, Mt Green December 25th 2015

Yesterday we climbed Mt Green and descended the north face to the Illecillewaet River. The rock band through to the Bonney (Parsons)-Green Col was thinner than Ive ever seen. Ice axe, crampons and a rope was utilized in this section due to thin snow on the rocks. Descending from the Summit down the north east ridge was also rockier than I had experienced in previous years. A rappel was required to gain the "ski run" where usually a side slip is sufficient. High quality skiing to valley bottom from there.

 

Joey Vosburgh
ACMG SG

Revelstoke, BC