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Skied the Winston Churchill traverse April 6-8. The main observation is that things are thin out that way. Less than 100 cm below 1700 m, carries about half the time. About 130 cm at treeline but it carries a skier well there with a few crusts helping out near the surface (foot penetration to ground about half the time though). On the ice it averaged only about 220 cm although the crevasses seemed to be bridged OK. Lots of big cornices around, with evidence of some recent cornice falls.
Below treeline sunny slopes were isothermal on the way out on the 8th and we triggered a couple of small slides on steep slopes. Other than that we saw only one recent avalanche, a size 2 on a steep slope below a cliff band, SW alpine aspect. Looked like a crossloaded windslab running on a crust, probably triggered by solar radiation.
A few hot days and you could be walking to get to the snow in this area. Mark Klassen Mountain Guide
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Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
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