[MCR] Selkirks: Kokanee

Subject: [MCR] Selkirks: Kokanee
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:22:14 -0800
Just thought we would send out a quick update from Kokanee Cabin prior to the 
weekend. We've been here since last Saturday and, with the exception of 
Tuesday, it has snowed steadily with a total of 164 cm falling. That includes 
55 cm last night!

Winds have been generally light with occasional periods of moderate. 
Temperatures have been cold, in the -6 to -18 range. New snow densities have 
been very light, between 25-45 kg/m3 the entire time. Translation: Kootenay 
Cold Smoke at overhead levels!

We haven't seen any avalanches since Monday when there was an extensive, easily 
triggered storm and wind slab problem but avalanche sizes were small size ones 
only.

We haven't been able to travel far and have only skied close to the lodge at 
treeline elevations. Our primary avalanche concerns are some very soft buried 
windslabs within the storm snow. We suspect this windslab problem is of far 
greater concern in alpine areas. We have observed the November 28 surface hoar 
layer buried about 150 cm, and the basal faceting rain crust in thin areas but 
have not been able to produce any shear results on those layers with our 
testing.

Regardless, we are limiting our terrain choices to smaller, moderate-angled 
slopes. The skiing has been fantastic.

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide

Geoff Osler
Ski Guide

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