[MCR] Bruins ridge-Connaught Valley-Rogers Pass Selkirk Mtns

Subject: [MCR] Bruins ridge-Connaught Valley-Rogers Pass Selkirk Mtns
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:30:06 -0800
We went up the Connaught valley today with the Bruins ridge as our plan A destination.

The access slope to the ridge is exposed to a serious terrain trap below and had already been skier-controlled by a guided party yesterday. We dug a test profile nearby and found the Feb 9-10th surface hoar layer below 22cm of low density storm snow. The January 25th surface hoar layer, 8mm crystal size, is now 40cm down from the surface and is the weak layer to watch (bed surface of the skier- controlled avalanche). The Dec 29th surface hoar layer (3mm) was found 120cm from the surface.

We ascended the access slope on the bed surface and skied up the ridge. As we skied back down the ridge, we triggered remotely (5m away) another size 1.5 slab as we approached yesterday's slab, 40cm deep, 20m wide and 30m long.

We also noticed several slabs triggered by skiers/boarders on the skiers right of Balu Pass. Visibility was marginal so we could not determine if they had been released today or yesterday. Rumblings were also heard coming from the North side of Mt Cheops.

Excellent skiing overall but the deteriorating stability is calling for a more cautious approach...
Take care,

Sylvain Hebert
ACMG Ski Guide
Revelstoke


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