[MCR] jasper snow

Subject: [MCR] jasper snow
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:22:36 -0600
Up for a jaunt yesterday morning at Maligne Lake. Went up the Lovatt scout trail just south of the Bald Hills fire road. fortunately there was an old track or I would have turned around...The snowpack below treeline barely supports weight and if you break through it is tough getting back to the surface. Climbing out of this valley there are some low angle S facing glades that easily lead to top where the back of the main south peak of the Bald Hills can be regained.

I was awed by how everything was subsiding (whoompfing) widespread everywhere. I was glad I wasn't anywhere near anything steep enough to slide. Once the sun is out even though it was cool (-7) the snowpack on the south side was very touchy, This seemed the case in many alpine areas where the wind had hit and they were shallow.

Skiing down below treeline you could not really ski off the beaten track. Come to a stop, sink to ground the upper pack is barely supportive, facetts to ground after that. Snowpack at treeline was about 1 metre. Foot penetration was about 60-80cm.
Great views of Maligne area!


Peter Amann

Peter Amann
Mountain Guide
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