ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Coastal Mountains issued June 02, 2011
Heads Up and Hazards!
This section if for
you if you are planning to go into the mountains over the next few days.
Avalanche season is
not over in the alpine, 20-40cm of new snow above 2000m will become moist and very
reactive on Friday afternoon. Surface slides and sluffing could persist through
the weekend well into next week. Forecasted warm temperatures could initiate a
long delayed spring avalanche cycle. Keep an eye on what is overhead and think
twice about where you set up camp. Large avalanches could reach valley bottom.
Also be aware that
warm temperatures will raise river levels over the weekend, make sure your tent isn’t
too close to the water and that you can get home if the rivers swell while you are
out there.
Weather
10-20mm of rain fell
around the Coast today except Squamish and Hope where it was way more. The rain
will ease tonight and at least 4 days of nice weather is forecast. Valley
temperatures will climb to 25degrees except around the sea where they will be
a few degrees colder. Freezing levels will peak between 3200-3500m during the
days and drop at night.
Conditions
There is still 2-4
meters of snow above treeline and patchy snow still exists as low as 700m above
sea level in some places. There is about 100cm of snow at the summit of the
Duffy Lake road, and probably close to that on the Coquihalla.
The snow is
saturated and you will likely be "post holing" for most of the day. Saturday,
Sunday and early into next week a crust that can support body weight is likely
to develop overnight, but will break down early in the day. It’s worth throwing
a pair of snowshoes in your purse if you are heading into the high country.
There are still
cornices out there guarding the ridge tops and threatening the valleys below. Give
them lots of space.
Squamish rock was
drying quickly until last night. The winter seeps are starting to dry out and
people are climbing pretty much everything on the Apron, North Walls and Grand
Wall areas. Don’t get me wrong it is not September, and you will have to tape
your cuffs to your wrists if you try Rock On or the Ultimate Everything.
In the Bluffs and
other cragging areas the climbs that are normally ascended dry are good to go,
or will be by the weekend. The climbs that are normally climbed wet…well, they’re
good to go too!
The falcon closures
are in effect on the Chief and there have been many bears hanging around.
Access
All the trails into
the alpine are still covered with snow to some degree. The more popular trails make
for good travel, but early in the morning you might want crampons and late in
the day you will sink to your hips if you step off the beaten path.
On logging roads
around the coast you will reach snow at about 900-1000m elevation east of Vancouver
and south of Squamish. On the roads north of Squamish expect to reach snow at 600-800m
and throughout the Coast Range roads are still blocked by avalanche debris from
late winter.
By my estimation it
will be another 2-4 days before the dozer breaks through the Hurley pass. They
are clearing the road from the north. Driving from Pemberton you can get as far
as the Tenquille Lake trail around Km 18.
The Upper Lillooet
River FSR is ploughed (or melted out) to South Creek on the on the one side and all
the way to the Meager junction on the north side. If they aren’t already, they
will start logging out there in the next few days. Avalanches could still reach
some of the higher spurs on these roads.
The west Harrison
Lake road to Tippella and Port Douglas has been reopened over the last 2 months
or so.
Other Observations
During a flight last
week we observed a large avalanche cycle that had occurred in the Bridge Range
and Montrose Range about 10-14 days ago. The slides extended as far south as
the north end of the Pemberton icecap and east to the Icemaker area. The slides were likely the February layer and
only 1-2 meters deep. There is still lots of snow and potentially weak deeper
layers that could still become active.
Other than surface
sluffing we saw no new avalanches in Garibaldi or the Squamish Elaho divide on that flight last Friday.
Have fun out there,
Conny Amelunxen
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide |