[MCR] Howsons 1 and 2 Apr 06

Subject: [MCR] Howsons 1 and 2 Apr 06
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2006 12:18:45 -0700
Conditions are slowly shifting towards spring in the northern Coast Mountains. There are 140 cm of snow at the Burnie Glacier Chalet and more than 350 cm on the Solitaire Glacier.

There was a notable avalanche that released spontaneously some time last week (see attached photo). This is a frequently skied moraine slope at an elevation of 1300 m with a southerly aspect. The avalanche was a soft wet slab, 200 m wide, fracture line depth 60-90 cm, ran for 80 vertical metres, size 2.5. Note the numerous old ski tracks that end at the fracture line. I was unfortunately unable to investigate the fracture line further, but assume that it ran on the 8 March interface.

At the higher elevations, the snowpack is still far from isothermal even in the southerly aspects. Several crusts shear when tested, but there were no other natural avalanches and ski cutting released only sluffs. There were no notable cornice failures. Skiing quality was good with powder on the colder aspects and incipient corn where sunny.
--
Christoph Dietzfelbinger
Mountain Guide, Bear Mountaineering and Burnie Glacier Chalet
Box 4222
Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Canada
tel. 250-847-3351 fax: 250-847-2854
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bearmountaineering.ca

JPEG image