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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued August 08, 2013
This past week's weather can be summed up with one term: Afternoon Thunderstorms! Conditions in the mountains are generally very good, but severe weather due to instability and afternoon buildup has been the norm. Lots of lightning and high intensity down-pours with rain and/or hail and strong winds have been occurring most afternoons and evenings. You would not want to be caught out on an exposed location in these conditions. Large debris flows in creek bottoms and gullies have also been observed in Jasper this week related to the heavy showers and already saturated ground.
The forecast through the weekend and early next week looks much the same with generally clear skies in the mornings and heavy build-up and thunderstorms in the afternoons. The take-home message for this weather pattern is to start very early and keep an eye on the weather. Plan to be off of higher exposed ground before the clouds build up and be prepared to retreat if necessary.
As mentioned, alpine conditions are very good.(This July was the driest on record in the Selkirks since 2003.) Reports from the Selkirks, Bugaboos and Rockies are describing very dry rock conditions on the alpine routes and generally light freezes with good snow travel in the early part of the day. Routes like Assiniboine, NE Ridge of Bugaboo, East Ridge of Cavell, SE Ridge of Victoria, NE Ridge of Sir Donald are reported in excellent condition.
The snow and ice faces like Athabasca, Lefroy and Robson are in a state of transition with many faces turning to ice now. Approaches like the Bugaboo/Snowpatch col are also starting to show bare ice. This transition means that the rocks are starting to melt out and rockfall will be an issue with melting. In addition, the bridges over the crevasses and bergshrunds on the glaciers are starting to sag or open and roped travel with careful route-finding is required.
For this weekend, I would still plan an alpine trip, but I might not plan a very long route with no option for retreat from an exposed location. An early start on a nice alpine rock route with a good option to bail and a view to the west where the clouds will be building would be my first choice.
Brad White
ACMG Mountain Guide
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These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted
them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors,
omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time
and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain.
Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety.
Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning
trips or making decisions in the field. Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The
ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in
continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable
nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information
provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions
Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from
this list.
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