[MCR] Selkirks Snow conditions

Subject: [MCR] Selkirks Snow conditions
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:59:59 -0700

Greetings,

I have just finished working at the Albert Icefields (it lies just outside the SW corner of Glacier Park) and I wanted to pass on some info regarding the local conditions.

 

I came out Saturday evening (April 14) so it is a little dated.

 

Locally conditions vary from very spring like below 1800m. – meaning that you will either find a hard frozen crust, some nice corn, or total wet slop depending on the time of day and aspect of the slope – to still full on winter above the 2500m. level where you will find still 20-35cm. of dry snow on most northerly aspects that is sitting on a strong crust that goes pretty much to mountain top.

 

Strong winds Friday night and warmer temps produced wind slabs in the alpine and at Ridgcrests at treeline – the other concern I have is that in the Alpine (where I was anyway) there is a buried layer of large stellar shaped snow crystals (just like the kind you used to cut out with scissors) above the crust and down about 20-25cm. which was producing lots of Whumpfs on Saturday – So pay attention if you are late season skiing on some large steep N. facing alpine feature, these stellar layers can be somewhat persistent and have the potential to propagate an avalanche over a large area.

 

Of course respect should also be given to any buried crust – though the bond to the crust seemed quite good in most locations I checked – it was still only shallowly buried at that time however.

 

Have a great spring everyone,

Cheers,

 

Scott Davis

Mountain Guide