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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued November 10th, 2011
Winter is easing into the Rockies and Columbia Mountains and the usual early season venues for skiing and climbing are seeing lots of fairly happy traffic.
In the Rockies, ice is where it is at. Certainly not everywhere is climbable but higher elevation, shady places like Ranger creek, Stanley Valley and Rundle North face have some climbable and protectable ice. Valley bottoms like Cascade and Field still have a ways to go. In most places along the east slope there is still not enough snow for avalanches to be a big concern. However, after a trip to Ranger creek last weekend I felt I wouldn't want to be walking off the top of the Chalice and the Blade in the more open, high consequence, wind effected bowls. It is warm and the wind is blowing in Canmore this morning so assume some snow will be moving around in the mountains. Wide variability in ice conditions, some are bone dry and others are pouring water.
Alpine ice along the Rockies divide is probably good. There is certainly enough snow up there for avalanches and new cornices to be a concern but we have almost no reliable recent observations.
People are getting after the skiing at Rogers Pass but it is still bony and fairly unconsolidated in the mountain snowpack so keep your eyes wide open and your speed down. There are definitely some concerns in the current snowpack. To learn more check out the next paragraph---
For avalanche conditions, check out the Kananaskis Country bulletins and the shiny new Parks Canada avalanche bulletins currently available for Banff/Kootaney/Yoho, Glacier and Jasper.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre will be starting up its public bulletins next week so this will be the last MCR summary for this season. Thanks for tuning in and have a fine winter season.
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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