[MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Rogers Pass - Bruins Pass Nov.12/2009

Subject: [MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Rogers Pass - Bruins Pass Nov.12/2009
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:25:58 -0800

Just a quick update on conditions in Rogers Pass before everyone heads out for the weekend.

 

I was back up Connaught Ck. on Thursday Nov.12 – the weather was quite cool (-10.0) with broken skies and light to moderate winds out of the North West – there had been a couple of centimeters overnight at the most and only a few flakes during the day. From snow observations it appears that approximately 40 to 50 cms. of snow had accumulated from Tuesday and Wednesdays stormy weather.

 

There was no evidence of a significant avalanche cycle related to this loading in the draingage – though snow may have sluffed off the steep north slopes of Cheops, the wind and recent snow had covered any evidence of it.

 

We did a profile and a bunch of probing on the upper slopes below Bruins pass and Pk. 8812 at approximately 2350m. – the total snow depth at the profile was 195cm. and probing showed a consistent 185 on the slopes above – Valley bottom is still around 50-60cms. and at mid elevations there was 120 -150cms.).

 

There was a repeatable moderate Compression Test result down 50cms. from the surface, but it was resistant planar in nature (means it didn’t fail quickly and slide off the column). This appeared to be at the storm snow interface. We had nothing cracking or breaking while trail breaking or skiing during the day, nor did we experience any whumpfs. Ski penetration was about 25-30cms. All in all things “Felt” pretty good where the snow was deep and the skiing was quite good for sure.

 

I still have a little lingering uncertainty on North aspects (I haven’t skied any yet) as there were several clear nights (Nov.3-4) last week and I know there was definitely some surface hoar at the parking lot – so I guess I would poke around a bit on sheltered north aspects to see what was going on there.

 

The trail out the drainage was in good shape though it is getting quite fast as a result of the significant increase in skier traffic since I was last there on Monday – lots of lines are skied out in the Ursus Minor trees area and the gullies that you have to descend to gain the valley trail are also pretty sporty with lots of Alder and ski tracks – just so you know!

 

Have fun and keep it real – remember moderate lines can be fun too!

 

 

Scott Davis

ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

 

Attachment: 8812 bowl Nov 12.jpg
Description: JPEG image

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