[MCR] Rogers Pass

Subject: [MCR] Rogers Pass
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 21:09:41 -0800
I've been in Rogers Pass the past 4 days. No snow for 11 days and good 
stability meant there were 
tracks everywhere, both up and down. However, today it snowed (5 cm at the Pass 
and 7 cm at 
Fidelity) and things are changing, so here are a few observations on what to 
expect in the next 
little while.

The big issue are the surfaces that got buried today. There is a lot of 
variability in this regard and as 
such forecasting instability will be complex for the next while. North and west 
aspects had 
windcrust, steep solar aspects (SE through S through SW) had suncrust, 
protected east facing 
slopes at all elevations and shaded below treeline terrain had decomposing and 
faceted grains on 
the surface. On top of these surfaces, on virtually every slope, there was 
surface hoar. The size of 
these crystals varied, at 2000m and below in sheltered areas it was huge, 20 mm 
or more. It was 
sluffing downhill in rivulets like water. On other slopes it was smaller, but 
still will be very much a 
concern. With any sort of load this February 4 surface hoar layer will be very 
reactive and 
avalanches will occur on it.

Heads up once we get more than a few cms over the next few days!

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide