Up ski touring on the Wapta with a group last week.
Skied from the road all the way to Bow hut with not too much problem in the
canyon.
The entire bowl with the seracs above the final slope to bow hut had avalanched
as a very healthy size 3 some days prior. This slide was roughly 500m wide and
ran at least 500m, well past where skiers cross the valley. The debris would
have easily buried a large group. Numerous other slabs observed that day and
the next, mostly on lee slopes.
Skied only on the icefield itself between Bow and Peyto huts and ascended no
peaks due to poor visibility, highly variable snowpack depth, and moderate to
high south west winds most of the week.
Snowpack on the icefield ranged from 2m to 30cms with bare ice. Average
snowpack at 8-9,000ft is around 150 cms. Rounding the corner up to St. Nicholas
on the north side was patchy bare ice with very large crevasses. That in
conjunction with poor weather made turning around a good idea.
Great skiing on the slopes above Bow Hut with 10cms of low density snow.
It will be tempting with good weather ahead to venture into the alpine but the
potential is very real, especially near ridge top, lee aspects for skier
triggered slabs from all the wind last week. Keep in mind the variable snowpack
depths this early in the season, it all looks the same on the surface.
Cheers
Steve Holeczi
Alpine Guide, Assistant Ski Guide
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The
ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in
continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable
nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information
provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions
Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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