Spent the day today (Nov. 20) in the various bowls and basins of the Connaught
drainage at the Pass. Temps were a brisk -15c parking lot with a sunny high of
-10 mid day above treeline. The weather was fine -mix of sun & cloud, with
mostly calm wind. The snowpack is about 30% less than normal for this time of
year. The trail up to Balu Pass is full of rocks and roots and low snow cover.
It is passable but one must be careful to avoid injury. Snowpack depths are
about 40-50cms lower down, with an average of 85cms at 2200M (treeline), and
about 100-120cms in the sheltered lees and draws in the alpine. Saw a few older
avalanches from past 4 days up to size 2. The snowpack was mostly stable, only
one layer of crust closer to the ground which showed mostly hard compression
test results. The Glacier Public Avy bulletin is rating the hazard at moderate
at Treeline and Alpine. Otherwise mostly low density unsettled mid and upper
pack. Of more concern than the avalanche hazard was the
rock and weed hazard. The alder weeds were extremely bad in the lower part of
Hospital gully accessing Ursus Minor/Hospital Bowl area. There were quite a few
parties skiing there the last two days and pretty much all the good available
lines are now tracked out. I hit about 12 rocks today, some on the skintrack,
some on the runs, and some on the trail out. It would take about 30-40 more cms
to bring it up to "normal" good skiing.
Good luck and be safe.
Russell Lybarger Ski Guide.
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These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The
ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in
continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable
nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information
provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions
Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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