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Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and
Columbia Mountains issued Nov. 2nd, 2006
We are firmly settled into the early winter
doldrums. A fairly big storm on the weekend brought around 30cms of snow to
treeline in many areas with some strong west winds. The wind also blew on
sunday/ monday as we transitioned into clear, cold and calm for the last
couple of days across the ranges.
There is approximately 30cms of recent snow in the
Columbia Icefields and Jasper east slope areas. This has been quite wind
affected so expect more in gullies and lee features. Strong west winds have
built up some fresh, big cornices. Bow Summit has 50cms of unconsolidated
snow and you are still skiing on the ground. Conditions are similiar around Lake
Louise. The best skiing in the Rockies is undoubtably the fresh trackset on the
Moraine Lake road.
Rogers Pass reports 50cms of snow at 1900m at
Fidelity(west side of the pass). 5-10cms of light snow at the road. This means
any skiing around there will involve a long approach on foot on the lightly
snow ocvered trails to some poorly covered rocks and logs at treeline.
Don't even think about travelling through the alders. Glacier Park
should soon be putting out its first avalanche bulletin of the
season.
The best downhill ski conditions are probably on
the glaciers in the interior but the wind has been at it. The snow bridges
there and in the Rockies are probably thin and weak and cleverly disguised
by the recent low density snow.
There is some hope for ice climbers and
skiers. A few hardy souls have been getting on the thin ice on the east slopes
of the Rockies and the thin snow on the west slope of the Columbias.There are
probably some good turns and good pitches to be had. However, keep two things in
mind. You will probably be working really hard on the approaches and, most
importantly, you REALLY don't want to fall on thin ice or thin
snow!
High north facing ice routes are the only realistic
hope. The usual early season suspects such as R+D and Amadeus have been climbed.
Bow Falls, the Weeping Wall, Shades of Beauty and a few other high flow
routes are probably close but wet. Field is still just wet. Check www.gravsports.com for more details. I
would also really like to encourage ice climbers to leave a note on
their car as to their destination, especially in parking lots that access
several routes. Paper under the wipers or scratch it in the rear window dirt. It
allows for better decision making by the late sleepers and is just plain
polite.
The weather forecast has been changing frequently
in the last few days. The latest forecasts for the Rockies and interior
point to a grey and slightly warmer weekend. Rain at low elevations and
snow up high on the already thin and weak snowpack would be nothing but bad news
in the short term. Either stand in line for a thin ice route or ski REALLY
carefully. Patience, grasshopper! It is never worth getting hurt for bad skiing
or bad climbing.
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide
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