We finished our season yesterday with a traverse from the Burnie Glacier
Chalet to the Telkwa River via Starr Creek and Mooseskin Johnny. There
were 225 cm of snow at the lodge (1010 m) and 230 cm at the Starr Creek
cabin (1395 m). The snowpack in the alpine is huge and still increasing.
The mountain creeks and rivers are low and clear and no significant
melting is taking place. We could ski all the way to the Howson Creek
bridge at 18 km on the Telkwa River FSR, but this won't last long as
it's only 10 to 20 cm for the last few km. The FSR is free of snow.
Conditions in the mountains are excellent, but the weather is continuing
stormy. The cornices are huge where they have not broken off during the
last warmer spell in mid-April. Glide cracks from cornices are a concern
on ridge tops as they are far back, thinly covered, and large enough to
make for serious falling in potential. We observed very little and small
slab activity, but numerous wet loose slides to size 2 with the heavy
snowfalls of the last week. Those slides occurred during the storms and
involved only the surface layers. Glide crack activity was minimal.
Coverage on the glaciers is excellent, as is skiing quality most of the
time. Early starts are essential, but the cool temperatures often
preserve a carrying crust well into the afternoon.
Conditions are excellent for spring skiing, but most people seem to be
ready to put their skis away.
--
Christoph Dietzfelbinger
Mountain Guide, Bear Mountaineering and Burnie Glacier Chalet
Box 4222
Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Canada
tel. 250-847-3351 fax: 250-847-2854
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bearmountaineering.ca
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