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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued November 14, 2013
The past week has seen a fair amount of activity in the mountains. The main hazard continues to be wind slabs on E to N slopes, especially in lee and cross loaded features, with avalanches to size 2.5 reported in Glacier Park, and a couple of near misses with ice climbers over the past couple of weeks from overhead start zones in Kananaskis Country. Cornices are starting to become a concern too with isolated failures to size 2 observed in the last 48 hours.
Over the next few days there is a snowfall warning for parts of BC and Alberta, with amounts of 5 to 20 cm predicted with moderate to strong winds from the W and SW. Expect a spike in avalanche hazard starting tomorrow and continuing through the weekend with touchy storm slabs in the alpine and treeline capable of producing avalanches big enough to bury you.
Ice climbing in the Rockies has turned a corner after a bit of a slow start. Many routes are in great shape and getting climbed regularly. The early season caveats of routes being thin, tricky to protect and stiff for the grade still widely apply as do the hazards of running water and poorly bonded ice. Gravsports-ice.com is the place to go for beta on what?s in.
It?s still too early for really good skiing, but plenty of people have been doing it. Total snowfall amounts over the past week amounted to little more than 20 or 30 cm, less in many areas. Ski travel below treeline is still epic ? generally less than 30 cm of snow covering rocks, logs and stumps throughout the western ranges. In the Rockies and Columbia ranges, skiing in select destinations in the alpine is now possible, but expect poor overall coverage. Alpine lee features in snow belt areas in the Selkirks and Monashees have had some moderately successful forays. Expect alpine snow depths in the Selkirks to be less than 120 cm and in the Rockies less than 80 cm.
Glaciers will have deeper snow but use extreme caution ? crevasses at this time of year are thinly bridged but well hidden. I?m thinking right now of the glacier just above Bow Hut, which in August had 3 meter wide holes that are now covered by maybe 100 cm of unconsolidated snow.
Tom Wolfe
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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