[MCR] Rogers Pass - Mt. Rogers - Little Sifton May 7/2014

Subject: [MCR] Rogers Pass - Mt. Rogers - Little Sifton May 7/2014
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 14:20:55 -0700

Just back from a spectacular day in Rogers Pass with amazing skiing and travel at all elevations thanks to last night's great freeze (-5 at the Hermit Parking Lot at 4:30am and nothing but stars!).

 

The recent storm deposited up to 30cms of powder above 2000m. overtop a 10cm thick Melt Freeze crust - it appeared well bonded and the new snow generally lacked any real slab properties unless affected by winds (mostly observed downflow wind effect). Below 2000m. the storm snow had formed a 5 cm. Styrofoam like  crust overnight, this softened into some great corn once the sun got on it, with  the lower crust being well frozen it carried skiers easily all the way to valley bottom (1330m.) as late as noon.

 

There were some loose dry and moist/wet avalanches out of steep sun effected terrain mostly small (size 1-1.5) - with lots of old activity (last week) up to size 3.5 that started as loose wet avalanches that then triggered deep destructive wet slab avalanches. This includes the explosive control results that the Parks Control Team had, that covered the highway with snow and lots of trees in 2 locations (again that was during the last major warmup). Right now things are cold up high, but as things warm up this spring, I would be concerned about large overhead solar slopes, especially ones with drippy cornices looming above.

 

Travel was easy with great bootpacking up to 2000m. and good tracksetting with skis above that. I made it to within 100m. of the Col on Mt. Rogers East face when I aborted after running into the aforementioned downflow windslab at 3150m. up to that point the snow had limited wind effect. I saw no wind effect on Little Sifton (which I climbed after skiing down from Mt. Rogers.

 

How things will be tomorrow will have a lot to do with how much crust formation we get - I am sure there is still dry snow on steep N aspects above 2100m even after today's sunshine - the question is how long will things hold together down low once the sun gets on them.

 

As my Great, Great, Great, Grampa used to say - "Timing is Everything, next to Location, Location, Location - which is of course All about TIMING!"

 

Oh ya, he also used to say - "When the SKIING IS GOOD - GO SKIING!

 

Cheers,

Scott Davis

ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

 

_______________________________________________
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.