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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued October 27th, 2011
It certainly feels like the autumn "nether" season in the Rockies and Columbia Mountains. A week of cold nights, cool days, wind and scattered precipitation means lots of slippery trails, cold, wet or icy rock, not much ice and damn poor skiing in most places.
Having said that, south facing rock in the sun is still possibly enjoyable if the wind isn't blowing. Choose something you can move fast on and get off of easily. An unplanned october bivy on steep terrain would be a long, dull nightmare.
Ice is definitely forming in the high shady lands and is starting to get climbed. There has been a couple of cycles of forming then falling off observable from the roads. Forecast is for cold for a couple of day then a slight warming over the weekend. Possibly not a big stress, but the structural integrity of the early season ice is usually variable and generally weak so do keep an eye open for running water/creaking ice and warmish air.
Skiing-well, it is likely to get better in the future:) 15cm on the ground at the Rogers Pass this morning. 50-60cm at treeline around the Rogers Pass and you are still walking on the ground. You know the deal-- stumps, rocks, rhubarb etc. Crevasses are just covered enough to be hard to see. Probably similar around the Rockies alpine and icefields.
Scrambling and general mountaineering-well the days are short, the nights are long and lots of the countryside is slippery.
Possibly just enough snow and wind in the high treeline and alpine to have the odd windslab lurking and fresh fragile cornice growth.
Good Luck, the Banff Film fest starts this weekend and I bet there are some cheap last minute flights to places near warm, sunny crags.
Larry Stanier
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain 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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_______________________________________________
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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