[MCR] Kootenay Pass, Southern Selkirk Mountains

Subject: [MCR] Kootenay Pass, Southern Selkirk Mountains
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:29:51 -0800
Just back from trip to Kootenay Pass. Here are a few observations from the day.

The storm from earlier in the week changed things a bit. The coverage is better, though still nowhere at the mid-winter levels. Be careful on wind-swept rides and lower elevations, the rock are still there. As well, at lower elevations there is now a crust on or near the surface. Depending on the elevation and aspect, it could make for some pleasant or unpleasant skiing.

A weak inversion had formed and the air temperature was hovering around zero above 1700m elevation. It felt strangely spring-like on the ridges. It was about -3C lower down at the highway. There was little or no wind during our tour.

There was widespread surface hoar development at all elevations and on all aspects. It was up to 12mm in sheltered, moist areas and almost nonexistent on warm solar aspects. I hope this doesn't become our first persistent weak layer of the season.

We had a great run off of Wolf Ridge down the main avalanche path to the power line. This is a solar aspect and the snow was moist at about 1900m elevation, then dried out as we skied lower into the inversion. At about 1700m elevation the crust became apparent. It was supportive so the skiing was good as we swished through the surface hoar.

Our last run of the day was off the Camel's Hump down to the power line on a north aspect. The snow was of good quality until we hit the crust at about 1700m elevation. The crust here was not supportive and made the skiing challenging.

It was great day for a tour in the sunshine.

Craig Hollinger,
ACMG Assistant Ski Guide.
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