[MCR] Nelson Region.

Subject: [MCR] Nelson Region.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:10:35 -0800


Hey all, just spent a few days of high quality skiing/working in the WhiteH2O 
Region as Brian Gould had mentioned.
The skiing has been great down here, but they certainly do have some snowpack 
issues.  Today, skiing into a clearing on a well packed up track our group 
experienced a large settlement that a group member 50m away felt, of note that 
we never stepped off the track.  Wondering what had settled and suspecting the 
Feb
4layer, went looking.  A frightening CTE 3, down 60cm, on V overtop of a 
suncrust layer was found. Surface hoar crystals were perfectly preserved at 
10mm 
in size.  Entire block slowly slid out part way for a sudden planer result, 
this 
was on an East aspect at 1700m, 20 degrees.
The previous day down 40cm on a North aspect at 2200m the most amazing Graupel 
layer was discovered, CTE 8, collapse.  The layer simple flowed out of the 
column when it failed, the perfect ball bearing sliding layer.
This particular day, I heard one group yelling avalanche and saw the debris 
moving with skiers along side it, no one caught.  Then descending back into the 
ski area, witnessed several skier triggered avalanches size 1-2, very close to 
the ski area boundary. All running in the previous nights loading.  Busy 
weekend 
for the Cold smoke fest, with lots of people running around in the backcountry.
As Brian mentioned the locals must be aware of the snowpack issues, through 
their own knowledge and the local bulletins, due to the amount of big 
attractive,uniform lines that have not been skied yet.
As Karl mentioned, there really is a serious issue in the snowpack that will 
probably last the rest of this winter.  Remember, a layer of surface hoar that 
is well established will often require aprox 80-100cm on top of it for it to 
become more reactive.
Be brave, safe and curious.

Rich Marshall
Mountain Guide.  
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