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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued October 18, 2012
Winter is slowly encroaching on the peaks and valleys in both the Columbia and Rocky Mountains.
In the Rockies there is a skiff of snow as low as 2000 m in shaded areas, although on sunny aspects snow line is higher. The further west one goes the more snow there is.
In the Columbias there are reports that there was 20-30 cm of snow at treeline in western areas. There is a significant precipitation event occurring in the Columbias again today with predictions of another 20 cm accumulating at treeline.
That all said, even Scott Davis has not been on his skis so sliding season doesn't seem to be here yet.
For activities, there have been occasional afternoons when low elevation rock climbing has been pleasant and mountain biking in the valleys is dry and fast. There have been no reports of climbable ice.
Observations from alpine climbers show that conditions are a bit hit and miss. Get it on one of the nice days and the climbing is good on classic snow and ice objectives, and on some gully and mixed lines. Go out on one of the days where the peaks are clagged with some wind and precip and chances are you are going to get hammered, especially on any feature where spindrift will be an issue. The Big Hose on the South Howser was successfully climbed on a nice day last week by one party, the next day another party attempted it in poorer weather and was inundated with spindrift, which necessitated a tactical retreat.
For hazards expect the normal autumn issues - poorly bridged crevasses, the aforementioned spindrift, short days with winter-like temperatures at high elevations and almost certainly windslabs on smooth, upper elevation lee slopes.
So time your adventures well to take advantage of brief weather windows, and start waxing those skis and sharpening those picks - winter is around the corner.
Mark Klassen
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.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml/unsubscribe to remove your name from
this list.
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