Sunny day in the Pass today and lots of people( 20-30 cars in Asulkan parking lot) out and about taking advantage of the break in the recent stormy weather.
My destination today was the Dome glacier in Asulkan Brook.
Trail breaking was an honest 40-60cms ski penetration with minimal wind effect, limited to the exposed ridge crests where the dry loose snow was being blown about by moderate Southerly winds(more previous wind effect on Youngs Pk. area). Even though the wind had filled in both the up and down tracks on the ridge crest, by the time I had re-ascended, it was not really slabbing up the dry storm snow – more just moving it about. That said you may find some deep pillows on the immediate lee slopes where the wind has been blowing it in. There was moist snow evident whenever the terrain tipped to the south – so you may find a suncrust on steep solar aspects tomorrow (perhaps hidden by the forecasted snow).
Avalanche activity today was limited to some loose moist size one avalanches on steep solar aspects – of note was a large size 2.5 (or small size 3) that had run to Asulkan Brook. It ran down the first slide path from the Abbot side of the valley that you encounter on the way in. It looked to be quite recent (last 24hours for sure) with little new snow on the wet looking deposit. It appeared to have been triggered by a large cornice fall that triggered a fairly wide slab(100-200m.) on the rockface below it running down the confined gully to the creek.
Other than that the recent storm snow felt quite settled and there no significant shears or results from ski cuts.
By the way – the skiing was AMAZING!
The next forecasted storm system was already darkening the skies above the Monashees by the time I drove home.
Cheers,
Scott Davis
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide