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ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies
and Columbia Mountains issued May 7th, 2009.
All the usual sources of public avalanche bulletins
in the Summary region have stopped for the season. Be aware that some agencies
will issue special bulletins in the event of an unusual avalanche cycle. Also,
the vast majority of operations involved with avalanche risk management in
Western Canada are no longer making observations in the field. At this
time of the year we are trying to summarize conditions for a very large area
with very few observations. Assume some areas will have dramatically different
conditions than the areas we talk about.
Spring has been slow to assert itself. Generally,
conditions have been cool and fairly dry in most of the ranges. Having said
that, there are reports of some significant snowfalls on the west side of
the Monashees last night, may 6th, and the snowline was still fairly low as of
this afternoon. Above 1900m in the Columbia Mountains the government "snow
pillow" measurement stations show the snowpack to be continuing to grow.
The graph also show very clearly that this is approximately the "historic" high
snowpack period and that the BIG melt is likely to be here soon. Rivers are still fairly low but you should assume they will be
rising sometime around when the pillows start shrinking. These graphs can be observed at www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/river_forecast/snowp.htm
Generally in the Columbias above 1300m it is still
a snowy world. Isothermal conditions(a generally weak and warm
snowpack) are reported at the Rogers Pass itself as of this afternoon. Very
difficult to say what conditions will be like for weekend skiing or
mountaineering in the Columbias. There are many variables that could effect the
snow quality and the avalanche hazard this weekend. In the next 48 hrs in the
Columbias, I am guessing that in some locations it will snow, rain, be
windy, cloudy, clearing, cold, hot and sunny. Not a classic recipe for high
quality, low avalanche hazard skiing:) With an open mind and a bit of luck there
may be some fine traveling to be had this weekend but don't be too surprised if
it really sucks in places too.
In the Rockies, some snow fell today in the Bow
Valley down to approximately 2100m and one centimeter is reported in the past
24hrs at Sunshine Village Ski area.
Snow has been very slow to melt above 2000m, even
on the East slope of the Rockies. North facing bowls have continuous snow much
lower than that. Reports from Jasper Park wardens indicate patchy snow above
1500m on the East slope and more consistent snow the further west you go. I have
seen no reports from higher elevations along the Rockies Divide. Obviously, the
higher and the closer to the Divide you go, the less info anyone has and
the more backcountry travelers will have to make their own complete
observations of the conditions to make an informed decision.
Front range scrambling looked better around Banff
than Canmore a couple of days ago. Low elevation scrambling and rock climbing
and perhaps corn skiing are probably the safest bets for the weekend in the
Rockies. In the cool hours of the morning, icefields mountaineering
and some alpine routes may be possible, but, as in the Columbias a wide
variety of conditions may be encountered depending where you go and when.
Personally, I wouldn't stick my neck out too far this weekend as it is seems
highly possible that I would be surprised at some point by a condition I had
hoped not too encounter. i.e., wet rock, wet snow, a soggy cornice,
rockfall, weak crevasse bridges etc.
Currently in the summary area,
it ain't quite winter and it ain't quite spring,
and there ain't many people doing the
high mountain thing.
Keep your eyes wide open and spread the word if you
see anything, good or bad.
Larry Stanier
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
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