There is still
good skiing to be found in sheltered areas at and below treeline (especially
north and east aspects). ‘The Burn’
south of Sunwapta Warden Station and across the highway had high quality skiing
yesterday at treeline and below. The
wind has been at the alpine, making for hard slab and a very uneven (hard to
ski) snow surface. Cold mornings
have been leading to warm afternoons on solar aspects. A layer of warm air aloft has been
making for even warmer temperatures above treeline the past few days.
Avalanche
activity is on the rise in the afternoons. This should lessen by the weekend with very cold
temperatures, but for the next few days avoid exposure to steep solar facing
slopes and any slopes with cornice hazard above.
Ice climbs
are generally brittle in the mornings.
Solar facing climbs are softening in the afternoons, making for nice
sticky pick placements. Tangle
Falls felt near tropical this afternoon.
Have
fun! Get out the warm layers if
you plan to go out in the mountains this weekend, several forecasts are calling
for temperatures to dip into the -30 to -40 range. Brrrr!
Jordy Shepherd
Mountain
Guide
www.PeakAlpine.com