[MCR] Hector Lake area skiing, Banff NP

I skied in the Hector Lake area today with a group of friends. 10cm storm snow overnight and steady snow flurries this morning with little wind added to the upper low density snow to make for excellent skiing. Compression test results were inconclusive with a broken shear down about 50cm in one test with low density (up to 4F) snow interspersed with a couple of soft wind crusts above. Snow depth was 170 at treeline. Bottom 40cm was large facets/depth hoar. We used caution around and/or avoided thinner snowpack areas (due to the basal facets) and windloaded ridge crests.

 

We skied moderate sized treeline and alpine features to 40+ degrees on E aspects. Power sluffing (fast skiier triggered loose avalanches) in steep terrain required fast skiing and sluff management to keep from being knocked over.

 

There's a hibernating bear in the area. While skiing to our destination we accidentally walked within 1m of him (almost hit him with a ski pole) before noticing him and it looked like we disturbed him as he stirred and rolled his head around a bit. We reported this right away (Karsten Heuer, a Parks Canada biologist, was with us) and the result is a closure of the area to protect the bear and people. This affects access to some of the skiing at the south end of Pulpit knob and further south so be sure to check the closure notice carefully and/or contact Parks staff to see how this might affect your travel plans.

 

Regards,
Tom Wolfe, ACMG/IFMGA

Burnie Glacier Chalet - Feb 17-24, spaces available!
http://bearmountaineering.ca/index.php/ski-mountaineering-at-the-burnie-glacier-chalet-week-7

_______________________________________________
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.