[MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Rogers Pass

Subject: [MCR] Selkirk Mountains - Rogers Pass
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:51:13 -0800
Hi all,

I headed up the Asulkan Valley yesterday for my first tour of the season. The 
snowpack tapers greatly with elevation; really boney below 1600m and pretty 
nicely winter above. Recent winds have left their mark with huge variability in 
snow amounts over the November rain crust - anywhere from 30 to 80cm down above 
1800m yesterday. All this has certainly changed with the passage of the storm 
overnight but...

Talking with people who have ventured up the Connaught drainage over the past 
few weeks and as recently as yesterday, I got the impression that the November 
crust wasn't particularly reactive. In fact, multiple compression tests results 
in the Balu Pass area yesterday were resistant to fail or just plain 
non-reactive. Most of the concern was centred around near-surface slabs created 
by recent winds. 

However, in the less traveled Asulkan drainage we dug a profile at 2100m on a 
NE aspect just below the hut. Our tests pooped easily in a 2cm layer of large 
rotten crystals over the crust 40cm down. This result is dramatically different 
from what has been seen elsewhere in the pass which might suggest that this 
interface is quite variable - or at least different from the Connaught creek 
drainage. Probably worth investigating this layer as we start skiing in areas 
that have limited data and/or use so far this season. 

All in all a great day of early season skiing and the ski out the Asulkan was 
just fine. 

Attachment: CA_Email Signature.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document

_______________________________________________
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.