>Chad Rigby , Carla Demyen & I completed a fun 4 day traverse in Glacier
>Park April 29-May 2nd. We skied from Silent Pass up the Beaver Glacier
>and out the Grand Glacier, returning to Silent pass. The conditions are
>now into full spring. The first 3 days had good overnight freezes but it
>warmed up rapidly during the day with the top 10-15cm becoming isothermal
>(slush) on sun effected aspects by 11:00am to at least 10,000ft.
>Numerous loose wet point releases to size 2.5 were observed, with some
>avalanches going to ground in steep shallow snowpack areas.
> May 1st we skied out the Grand Glacier, which has a challenging exit
>and
>we stayed to the skiers right side to avoid the isothermal solar slopes
>and overhead icefall hazard on skiers left. To avoid the steep heavily
>crevassed toe of the glacier we were forced to traverse a short 45 plus
>degree snow slope on the edge of the glacier. This was probably the
>warmest day of the winter so far
>and by 1:30 it was +12 degrees at 5500ft with intense solar radiation.
>Numerous size 2.5-3 wet snow avalanches were observed including several
>natural icefall and cornice triggered deep slab releases. Despite this,
>valley bottom travel was still supportive and easy.
> Our last night out it rained to the top of the peaks. We skied out to
>Silent Pass the next morning which was overcast and still reasonable
>travel despite the top 5-10cm being wet snow. With no overnight freeze,
>the previous days hot temperatures and overnight rain we suspect that a
>large avalanche cycle will occur especially with any solar radiation.
>
>Kirsten
>
>Kirsten Knechtel
>ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
>www.kirstenknechtel.com--
>
>
>
>--
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On 14-05-02 8:39 PM, "Public Mountain Conditions Report"
><mcr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>With partner Kendra Stritch I enjoyed a 4 day recreational tour of the
>>Lyells 29 Apr - 2 May.
>>
>>A good overnight freeze 28 Apr made for great travel up the Glacier
>>River
>>valley. Skiing at valley bottom was mainly supportive.
>>
>>Snow coverage on the Lyell Icefield was consistently greater then 250cm.
>>Wind effect was prevalent and we observed solar effect on S aspects to
>>3200m on 1 May. We observed numerous cornice failures on E aspects
>>resulting in avalanches to sz 2. Ski crampons were helpful on scoured W
>>aspects and without, ascents of Mt Lyell and Mt Rudolph would be
>>difficult.
>>
>>Below 2500m spring conditions prevailed on our egress. There were
>>numerous point releases to sz 2 on S aspects, and mud and rock slides on
>>lateral moraines.
>>
>>Travel at valley bottom deteriorated significantly this week. Almost no
>>ice/snow bridges remain over the braided river. It was still possible to
>>ski across Glacier Lake.
>>
>>Recent grizzly bear tracks were observed throughout the valley.
>>
>>Brent Peters
>>Alpine Guide
>>yamnuska.com
>>
>>
>>Sent from my iPhone
>>_______________________________________________
>>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.
Grand Glacier.jpg.zip
Description: JPEG image
_______________________________________________
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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