[MCR] Purcell Mountains - International Basin - Jan 18-23

Information from the International Basin area of the Purcells, Jan 18-23. Conditions were excellent. All of our observations were made above 7000'.

Clear skies, past wind effects and warm temps have destroyed the snow surface conditions on most terrain, but shaded areas at and below treeline had great snow.  Really good conditions for alpine travel though, so we took advantage of the bluebird and quick alpine travel to bag peaks and stay up high when we could.  Average snowpack depth in the area is 160-200 cm.

The avalanche hazard improved all week owing to the warm temps and a rapidly settling snowpack.  We did alot of testing and although we could find the Xmas facet layer down about 100 cm everywhere, it was hard to distinguish with the naked eye and did not produce any consistent failures. These good conditions surprised us, given all that had occured days before we went in.

Lots of old fracture lines from 1 week ago, but we did not observe a single fresh avalanche all week.  We peered down into low elevation south facing terrain and could see lots of recent activity down there from the heat.

Felt like April in January.

Grant Statham
Mountain Guide

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