March 27, 2011
The lower canyon on the Mt Hector approach is debris-filled from large wet
avalanches most likely from the warm spell last week.. Above the canyon
cornices are quite large. from the predominant W & SW winds.
For a big snow winter the upper moraines below the glacier are minefields of
rocks covered with very little snow. The trough above the moraines ( normal
approach) is also covered with old debris from avalanches triggered by a small
cornice fall which which in turn triggered the various slabs on unsupported
ledges on the E facing spur from Mt Hector. At around 2750m there is over
250cm HS. The skiing on the upper glacier was excellent, although by sunday
the 35cm Hst was settling into a soft slab which rests on a variable
windcrusts. It's still winter up high, and spring conditions on sun-exposed
slopes at lower elevations.
Greg Yavorsky
UIAGM Mountain Guide
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Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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