[MCR] Sunshine backcountry

I spent the day ski touring around Sunshine Village ski resort. The snowpack is variable, averaging about 60 cm deep at treeline. A 1-2 cm thick melt-freeze crust layer down about 45-50 cm (near ground, Nov 6?) creates a supportive base -- we didn't hit any rocks today, miraculously. Alpine ski quality was poor -- catchy, crusty, upside down and wind affected with 35+ cm of storm snow that's been blow around above treeline. In the trees and in sheltered areas ski quality was pretty good.

 

I didn't observe any cracking or whumpfing in the storm snow or at the crust interface.

Tom Wolfe
Mountain Guide ACMG/IFMGA
Canmore, AB

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