[MCR] Conditions: Selkirks North of Revelstoke

Further to the Special Public Avalanche Warning posted by Greg and numerous other postings by other fellow guides I thought I’d post a few of my observations today.

I was teaching a CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1 course today into the Selkirk’s just north of Revelstoke (just north of Mt Revelstoke National Park).  Clear skies meant that we got a really good look around, we were at 2350 at 9:30am and spent the entire day up high.

The helicopter remotely triggered 2 large avalanches – 1 Size 3 and 1 large size 2, on W and NW aspects at around 2350m.  The propagations were remarkable.  Both avalanches started on the Feb 8 surface hoar layer and stepped down to the late January surface hoar layers – they ran fast and far.

We also ski cut 2 size 1’s on small, low angled terrain.  On a W aspect at the end of the day I skied over a roll and over a dozen shooting cracks darted out in front of my skis.  There was cracking and obvious signs of instability all day, on all aspects.

We avoided avalanche terrain all day.  Compression tests were showing easy, sudden results.  For those who know the Propagation Saw Test the Feb 8 surface hoar layer failed dramatically after only 5cm of cutting.  YIKES!

Be careful out there folks, its very touchy.

Ian Tomm
CAA Professional Member
ACMG Ski Guide

P.S.  Special thanks to the guides and staff at Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing for supporting professional avalanche training with a heli-lift to study the snowpack in their area.  Much appreciated!




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