Skied a couple of laps down ?Husume?, a steep NW aspect which skies into
the Blackcomb glacier drainage, accessed via the Spearman Gl. As for the
ski quality, it was quit exceptional, unprecedented for this time of year.
Good goggles are a necessity as you should be expecting a face shots with
most turns.
In Immediate lee steep ridge top terrain we were able to ski cut some
small soft slabs 30cm thick. There was limited propagation with these
slabs, but, this limited volume would typically initiate sluffing in the
upper 20-30cm of new snow. This resulting loose snow sluff is capable of
entailing enough volume to knock a skier off there feet or carry a skier
over or into hazardous terrain and even burry a skier in a terrain trap.
We accessed Husume via the Spearman Glacier. Thought limited opportunity
for visual observation, it appeared the coverage on the glaciers is very
good for this time of the year. Of further note, especially in the case of
the upper Spearman Glacier is that it has become more complex over the
summer. As a result, it would be very advisable in even previously
familiar glaciated terrain to us great caution when visibility is limited.
Keith Reid, MG
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