Today we skied up the E flank to get a different view. Strong gradients are
breaking the snow down in protected areas. In wind exposed areas (which is
everywhere on this flank once out of the big timber) there is a knife hard
windslab about 10 cm thick that is interrupted, but very widespread.We
experienced no whumpfing at all and there was no propagation when we broke the
slab at its edges.
We advise caution in exposed areas (which is again all of this flank) as this
windslab sits over softer layers and fails easily and cleanly in shear tests.
We do not expect this slab to break down even with the current strong gradients.
We saw no recent avalanches and it appears that last weekend's snowfall
yielded only 6 cm here.
Skiing quality was poor. Travel conditions are poor on large hard debris lumps
in the lower gully and fair on variable crusts higher up.
--
Christoph Dietzfelbinger, Mountain Guide
Bear Mountaineering and the Burnie Glacier Chalet
Box 4222 Smithers B.C. Canada V0J 2N0
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bearmountaineering.ca
tel. 250-847-3351 fax 250-847-2854
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