[MCR] Rockies - Burstall Pass area

Spent the last 3 days in Commonwealth Creek, Birdwood Creek, the Upper Spray River and Burstall Creek - all on the border between Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park.

20 cm of light powder is on the surface, making for great skiing everywhere except where the wind has roared through passes or in alpine areas.  Temps ranged from -8 to -23 this morning, and even the south facing skiing is excellent. 

The snowpack on the west side of the passes is 200 cm deep at treeline, and 140 down in the valley bottoms.  Feels very strong; I did not dig a profile but probed alot and although I could feel a crust near the bottom of the snowpack, it did not concern me. 

Other than isolated pockets of windslab at higher elevations and near passes, I did not have any avalanche concerns.  Conditions are awesome!

Happy new year.

Grant Statham

Mountain Guide

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