[MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Corbin Pass - Dec.11-13/06

Subject: [MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Corbin Pass - Dec.11-13/06
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:21:29 -0800

Hi gang,

I have been busy skiing the trees at Corbin Pass (just west of Glacier Park) the last few days. Continued snow (@ 20-30cm every 24hrs.) made for fresh trailbreaking every day.

 

Lots of wind even down below treeline on Tuesday Dec.12 – less so today and Monday – I was barely into the  treeline elevation today but I suspect that there are some lingering windslabs up there as well as in the Alpine from yesterdays wind event. There was a weakness in the snowpack down 30cm. yesterday, but it tightened back up with the cooling temps today and wasn’t reactive to ski’s – at least where I was skiing.

 

On Monday at @2200m. there was @ 130cm. of snow over the Nov.7/06 crust and a total snowpack of @ 200cm. - there is an additional 40-60cm. since then from the last storm systems. The Nov.7/06 crust was 5-10cm. thick and the snow above seemed well bonded and quite strong.

 

So there has been lots of snow (and it looks to continue) and a fair bit of wind so be wary traveling above or at treeline for the next while – in the long term however all this snow should make for a strong snowpack – and in the short term there is some fantastic tree skiing to be had out there.

 

Also of note is the fact that Telus is now setting up cell towers along the Trans Canada highway from Revelstoke and through out the Roger Pass – so far the west side is done (so there is cell service at Corbin area as well as the Asulkan Parking lot – I haven’t got it at the hotel yet) – bring your cell phones(with the ringer turned off of course) and see where you get service in the backcountry – a worthy emergency device to carry – but it won’t cover everywhere out there, so nice to know where you do and don’t get a signal.

 

Keep them slippery side down,

 

 

Scott Davis

Mountain Guide