[MCR] Rockies: Kicking Horse Pass

Subject: [MCR] Rockies: Kicking Horse Pass
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2012 19:22:52 -0600
So today I went to north aspects in the Kicking Horse Pass area and there were issues there as well. 

Numerous large avalanches had run on major paths on north and east aspects over the past few days. 

In addition to those there were two very fresh size 3 avalanches, one on an alpine east asp of Cathedral Mtn which probably was triggered by early morning sun today and one on the ski line on the glaciated shoulder of Pope's Peak (north aspect). Fracture lines were 1-2 m deep.

I managed to push out a stubborn windslab on an open treeline ridge, it took a couple of hops but then it propagated 90 m around the corner from the east aspect I was on to the north aspect and ran 70 m into the forest. It failed in the storm snow 40 cm down. 

We skied tight lines in the forest. Any slope that was sun exposed was moist and will have a crust tomorrow.

Mark Klassen
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

_______________________________________________
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.