[MCR] Selkirks: Valkyr Range

Another good week at Valkyr Lodge. We didn't receive much snow over the week in this zone but the skiing was good nonetheless. 

Our main concerns for most of the week were isolated windslabs and large cornices. There were a few small naturally-triggered windslab avalanches and two large cornice falls with a wind event the night of the 18th/19th.

A significant warming event occurred March 20, which caused us to avoid solar aspects. This bright day caused suncrusts to form on all sun affected slopes from E thru NW aspects from mountain top to the valley bottoms. Numerous loose snow and thin slab avalanches occurred on south aspects on March 20 with the warming.

We didn't see evidence of widespread deeper instabilities in snow profiles or with the warming event, cornice falls or skiing. However, our nearest neighbours have been seeing issues associated with suncrusts buried in February and early March on south aspects.

Drove through Rogers Pass and the Rockies last evening and things were looking decidedly spring-like with lots of wet snow avalanches and most slopes looking like they've had some degree of cooking.

Mark Klassen

Mountain Guide

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