[MCR] Early Season Glacier Skiing, Glacier National Park

With limited snow in the valley bottoms, many people are keen to head up higher onto the glaciers in Rogers Pass. This was a fairly dry summer, coupled with an average snowpack from last winter. The results of this are some large crevasses that are now hidden by the thin, early season snowpack. A fair number of local guides in the area have already noted, in earlier postings, the fact that glaciers seem to have changed this summer, with lots of open, gaping holes.
 
Check out Parks Canada's parkmountainsafety Facebook site for a few images illustrating this hazard to the backcountry traveller.
 
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.592937624089564.1073741842.145133538869977&type=1
 
These are end-of-summer images, before the first snowfall masked the holes. Things will look different with a metre or two of snow on the ground, but be aware of what you are skiing over! Have a safe winter.
 
Chris Gooliaff
Mount Revelstoke/Glacier National Park Visitor Safety
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

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