[MCR] Rockies - Wapta conditions Apr.21-26/2013

Here is an update to Barry’s Wapta posting from last week – as noted by him conditions were pretty darn good after the storm of Apr.20^th and continued so for several days afterwards.

 

The last couple days (and especially today) saw increased winds (mod West with strong to extreme gusts) and rising temps that have created windslabs in lee features and otherwise wind pressed or scoured surfaces, that are still skiable but not quite as pleasant as the earlier powder we enjoyed.

 

The canyon section of the Bow Hut approach was starting to become weak and with skis breaking through the crust and as there has yet to be a major spring thaw cycle there – some caution would be warranted if you are coming there late in the day on a sunny afternoon.

 

Our other major concern throughout the week was a persistent weak layer (either small Surface hoar or stellar crystals – it was hard to say for sure) at the interface of the Apr. 20^th storm snow . We had a couple of Whumpfs on high elevation ridgecrests (MT. Rhonda and Mt. Gordon at @ 2900-3000m.) – one of which (Mt. Rhonda) resulted in a remote triggered (10m.) size 1 avalanche on a steep (40 degree) tensioned/convex N. facing feature, that was adjacent to where we had stopped for a break.

 

Another party had a skier accidental size 1.5 on a N. facing convex feature on the Diableret Glacier, which was triggered when the second skier down the slope fell near the top – fortunately no involvement, but it did propagate fairly wide (40m. wide and 30-40cms deep).

 

Something to keep in mind for those that are considering some more serious objectives in the Rockies this spring – hard to say how long this will persist but worthy of some investigation before leaping on any steep N. facing slopes.

 

Cheers,

Scott Davis

ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

 

 

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