[MCR] Kicking Horse/Bow Summit/Rogers Pass

Subject: [MCR] Kicking Horse/Bow Summit/Rogers Pass
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:55:52 -0800
The last few days have been spent working on a CAA Level 2 course based in 
Golden, 
with field trips to Kicking Horse, Bow Summit area, and Rogers Pass.

Kicking Horse, Feb 11-13
The main story is a weak facet layer (no Xmas crust in this area) taking up the 
bottom third or so of a snowpack that varies quite a bit in it's depth, from 
120 to 
220 cm. In deep areas there were no results from our testing on this weak 
layer, 
while in shallow areas easy shears were recorded. This to me means we should 
stick 
to fairly simple terrain features, not too steep and with few convexities or 
starting points such as rocks. Stay in areas where the snow depth is at least 
150 
cm, preferably deeper. Surface windslabs are also a concern at Kicking Horse.

Bow Summit, Feb 14
Similar to Kicking Horse although for the most part the weak facet layer at the 
bottom is actually stronger and shows harder test results. All the same, 
variability 
is great in the Rockies and the cautions we had for Kicking Horse held here too.

Rogers Pass, Feb 15 (Fidelity area)
The only significant weaknesses observed in the upper snowpack was a weak layer 
10
-20 cm from the surface, which at ridgecrests was reactive where there was a 
soft 
windlsab on it. We saw an Rutshblock 2 sudden planar shear on this layer. Where 
there was little wind effect this layer was not a problem at the moment. The 
deep 
facet layers persist in the Pass but we did not dig down to test them. They are 
buried 2 m or more deep. The occassional deep release still is occurring on 
these 
layers in high elevation thin rocky areas. If it goes it goes big, with the 
most 
recent natural avalanche being a size 3 on February 14.

Cornices
The one consistent thing in all these areas are the numerous recent cornice 
falls. 
These often are triggering deep weak layers and large avalanches. Keep looking 
at 
what's above you!

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide
Corax Alpine Guides
mark@xxxxxxxxxxxx
www.alpinism.com
403/760-3337