A fine day in the Coast Mountains.
From 7th heaven, took the ‘stupid’ traverse
(in great shape) over to the Blowhole and out onto the Spearhead. Skied the south
bowl off Spearhead, climbed Decker, down the NW face, and over to Syphilis on
Disease for the finish. A grand day for our early season legs. Started out
having the entire area to ourselves, but after about an hour the troops arrived
on mass. Visibility was perfect, winds were light, and smiles were abundant.
An average of 20-40 cm of HST overlies the raincrust (which
gets much thinner and less noticeable somewhere between 2000m and 2200m). Some minor
wind effect in exposed areas. Some suncrust on southerly asps from yesterday,
with some noticeable sluffing beneath steep south rocks. Beneath the raincrust,
the snowpack still feels a little unconsolidated with the probe, but certainly
seems to be settling nicely. The odd windslab still exists, and there was one
size 1.5 (see photo) that likely pulled out yesterday. But otherwise the
snowpack is unreactive where we skied.
200-240 cm HS on the Decker Glacier. It is looking pretty reasonable
considering the beating that it took this summer. Photos attached.
Of note - many lines you would never consider skiing till January
are getting nicely filled in, with snow glopped on to the rocks, and tight
couloirs looking almost fattish! Nice start to what could be a good year!
Cheers,
Brian Gould
Mountain Guide
