[MCR] Rockies-Lake O'Hara Conditions June 15th, 2010

 Still a snowy world above 2400m at O'Hara. Most trails have snow in the forest and travelling on the talus is horrendous unless things are frozen solid.

 

The big snow and ice routes like Lefroy, Glacier and Cathedral look great. With a good freeze it would be as good as they get. Continuous snow from Lake Oesa to Abbotts Pass. Ringrose, Hungabee look horrendous. Victoria would feel very sporty with big cornices and snow everywhere along the ridge. Grassi Ridge is dry with snowpatches on the descent.

 

Dug a snowprofile at 2600m on a 40+degree North slope today below the Yukness/Ringrose col.  2 meters of snow with no weak layers stuck well to the glacier ice.

 

There was lots of relatively small avalanche activity during the past weekends heat and some during the rain. No big fracture lines visible anywhere but I am guessing there is still one more big avalanche cycle possible during the next real heat wave. Lots of rockfall and wet sloughs are a certainty when the sun comes out.

 

It ain't summer yet up here at 2000m. Lightning, 4 degrees C and snowing at 2pm today.

 

Buses start running june 18th I believe.

 

Larry Stanier

ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

laristan@xxxxxxxxx

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