Selkirk Mountains - Rogers
Pass - Connaught Ck. - Dec.13-07
Skied in the Ursus Minor and Bruins Pass
area today along with several other parties.
Another 10cm. of low density snow overnight and cool temps. I
found 50-60 cm. of low density snow over the Dec.3 crust at Treeline - the
crust was gone by the time you climbed above General Hospital Gulley.
Moderate winds from the West and North West with gusts at ridge crest –
I saw deep deposits of snow (pillows) in lee features at least a meter deep and
I could get cracking in these deposits when I tested a small steep feature
along the ridge. – Once off the ridgecrest
the low density snow did not appear affected by the wind – but this could
easily change overnight – lots of loose snow for transport for sure.
One thing that is interesting about the Dec.3 crust is, that
it is thinner and weaker at the lower elevations and is thickest and strongest
just before it ends at Treeline – one way or another it will be something
to keep track of especially as you ski down toward the valley bottom out of the
alpine and things steepen just as you hit the elevation where the crust occurs –
hmmm something to keep in mind.
Cheers,
Scott Davis
Mountain Guide