[MCR] McGill Shoulder - Rogers Pass

Mark Stanley and I were up on McGill shoulder today at Rogers Pass.  Warm morning, -1 at the parking lot at 8:20am with about 12cm of new snow overnight.  Cooled off considerably and by noon it was in the –8 range.  Light northerly winds with minor transport in the areas we skied, didn’t really see too much of the high country but I’m sure it was blowing hard somewhere.  May want to watch out for that pesky reverse loading due to the N winds for the next couple of days in the Alpine and exposed features.

There was about 10cm of slightly colder snow overlying a generally well settled and well bonded snowpack up there.  The 10cm was reactive in steep wind affected micro features but nothing of consequence at all – just some cracking and sluffing.

Excellent... I mean excellent skiing.  Over the head face shots for the top 2/3 of the run – then into alders and the rain/temperature crust for the lower 1/3.  But still more than enjoyable, and the upper 2/3 was worth any minor bushwhack anyway.

Ian Tomm
Assistant Ski Guide