Pleasant day today at Black Prince with temps around -9C @
11 AM, only light winds (for a change!) and occasional light snowfall. A quick
test profile at around 2000 meters (halfway up the Black Prince Apron) showed a
snowpack a well settled mid pack in a total snop depth of 155cm. There was an
easy shear on a compression test on small facets at the interface of the recent
storm snow about 25-30 cm down. Our test location was quite unaffected by
recent winds and the overlaying slab was not cohesive enough to where it was a
concern for skier triggering today. I’m sure this would be fundamentally
different in many locations at tree line and above in the area.
It was my first day ski touring in the hill country of Alberta for this season
and I was amazed how wind scoured the terrain above tree line was. On the
positive side, the skiing was excellent today with only few old tracks visible.
Jorg Wilz
Moutain Guide (ACMG / VDBS / IFMGA)
OnTop ltd.
1 800 506 7177 or (001) 403 678 2717
www.ontopmountaineering.com