[MCR] Whistler/Blackcomb backcountry March 29/30

Subject: [MCR] Whistler/Blackcomb backcountry March 29/30
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:36:16 +0100
March 29

Skied Spearhead Glacier and Corona.

Sunny skies and cold temps -7 to -13 deg.

Several natural small size 1 loose and soft slab avalanches to 15cm deep observed E, SE & NW aspects in steep (40 deg and greater) terrain.

Crevasses are now generally well bridged with some obvious holes, although the wind event from NE late last week caused some wind ripples that could be confused with crevasses (or more dangerously vice versa).

15cm storm snow on the flats of Spearhead Glacier, height of snow greater than 240cm. Boot to knee deep low density powder on Corona, apparently where all of the snow ended up with the wind, great skiing!

March 30th

Travelled across Flute & Oboe Mountains on the way to Cowboy Ridge, return via Singing Pass trail.

No new avalanches observed.

E & SE aspects of Flute had variable thickness wind and solar crusts that made skiing challenging. The E aspect of Oboe was however much better with no crust and great skiing down to Melody Creek. Cowboy Ridge had a 2-3cm thick sun crust which was not enticing to ski and the skin track from yesterday was slippery. The N facing bowl between Cowboy Ridge and Russet Ridge had no crust and fantastic ski quality (ankle deep).

Snowed very lightly all day, 1-2cm new snow during the day. Temps -4 to -7 deg. Wind light from SW.

Singing Pass trail in good condition, caution drainage ditches last few kms.

Alex Geary
ACMG Assistant Ski Guide


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