[MCR] Rockies, Mt Wilson area avalanche hazard

Ice climbers,

There was a very large avalanche that ran over Les Miserables and Oh Le Tabernac, starting from a long way above, sometime in the last 36 hours.  Size 3.5, terminated 250 meters below OLT in the runout zone.  This probably represents a fraction of what lies overhead still, and shouldn't be considered a clean out. 

Photo attached is the debris in the gully above OLT.

Appears the snowpack is very sensitive to natural triggers and large avalanche can result.  Watch out for big ones in the Mt. Wilson area, even if you are in the lower part of the path. This one ran a long way considering the snow volume at low elevations.

We went up to climb both OLT and Les Mis, and were surprised to find debris in the lower creek approach, but unsure how old it was.  We climbed OLT, then bailed due to alot of wind loading and kind of sick feeling that we shouldn't be there. After a bit of research, we figured out that this avalanche probably ran yesterday (Monday). Usual triggers in this place would be sun and warmth, but Monday was cloudy so in this case it may have been wind loading onto a very unstable snowpack.

Look up, way up.  Heads up.

Grant Statham

ACMG Mountain Guide

Above OLT Dec 28.jpg
Description: Binary data

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