[MCR] Purity, Bishops and Dawson Ranges - Selkirks - Mar 31 to Apr 4

Last 5 days travelled from Rogers Pass into the Purity Range, then across the Bishops Glacier to Glacier Circle and out over Youngs Peak back to Rogers Pass.

Conditions were good with over 300 cm of snowdepth on all glaciers and well bridged crevasses.  Lots of low density storm snow has accumulated in alpine areas with ski penetrations of 40-60cm above 2400m.  Some areas above 2900m was 120 cm foot penetration!  No windslab formation made for relatively low avalanche hazard, but that changes immediately when the sun comes out and bakes all that loose snow.  Watch out if the wind comes up too, as it wouldn't take much to blow all this fluff into a windslab.

Fantastic dry powder skiing on shaded terrain, and suncrust on all other aspects.  This crust was not yet thick enough to support a skier, but we used ski crampons occasionally to deal with the firm travel.

Grant Statham
Mountain Guide



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