[MCR] Rogers Pass

Subject: [MCR] Rogers Pass
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 20:25:24 -0700
Good skiing again on a couple of laps in Macdonald West Shoulder/NRC Gully 
today. I've also had a report of good skiing on Dome Glacier and another group 
of friends went to Little Sifton although I'm not sure if they made it over 
today.

There was a widespread cycle of very large avalanches (to size 4.5) during the 
last storm cycle but I talked to one of the avalanche forecasters at the end of 
the day and he hadn't seen anything new in highway corridor. The surface hoar 
that was an issue awhile back also seems to be dormant for the time being at 
least in the areas I've been skiing recently - mostly trees.

That said, it sounded as if there was an incident in the Connaught valley, 
perhaps in the Grizzly Mtn/upper Grizzly Bowl area. This would go with the 
observations we made in that open areas at treeline and above have had recent 
wind effect and wind slabs are a probability up there.

As is usually the case, if you go where the snow is soft with quality skiing 
and avoid areas where the wind has got at it making the skiing crap you may 
well also avoid the major avalanche problems right now.

Mark Klassen
IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide
www.alpinism.com/SORCERER-LODGE
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