[MCR] South Coast, Red Heather/Elfin

I spent the last 4 days at Red Heather and Elfin area in Garibaldi Provincial Park.  A significant storm system is passing through the region with very high winds and heavy snowfalls.  The wind started southerly Thursday night and switched to northerly early Friday morning.  As a result slopes are loaded on multiple aspects.  At tree line and below tree line simple terrain was very touchy and reactive to skier triggering.  That is, 30 degree slopes were avalanching with soft slabs size .5 to size 2. Crown lines were from 25-50 cm. deep, and 50 meters wide. Several naturals with tree bomb triggers on North West aspects were observed.  Below tree line gulley's were easily triggered propagating  around ridge features.  A layer of burried surface hoar is suspected on the 50 cm crown line.  Digging didn’t reveal it, but conditions were not conducive to crystal recognition!  Blowing snow transport was ferocious!  Test profiles on the 25cm crowns showed a storm snow shear with very easy to easy results.  The storm snow depth was variable, but an average depth of 50 cm on the old solar crust.  Many lee features were 60 cm on the old surface..  The car had 40 cm on it mid day Friday.  Play safe this weekend.

 

Chris Lawrence
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
CAA Professional member
chris.lawrence@xxxxxxx
604 892-4686 mob

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