[MCR] Spearhead traverse

Subject: [MCR] Spearhead traverse
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 20:43:02 -0700
I spent the last three days (May 5-7) with a guest on the spearhead traverse in 
Whistler. 

We travelled primarily in the alpine from 2100m to 2700m, finishing the trip at 
1000m. We experienced temperatures ranging from -6 to 2 degrees, light nw winds 
and isolated precipitation amounting to a trace of new snow. The last two days 
were characterized by clear skies with valley fog that broke up during the 
morning hours and afternoon cumulus cloud formation and associated isolated 
precipitation. We found that we had a good overnight freeze allowing for 
generally predictable melt/freeze conditions. 

We noted two new avalanches to size 2, one on the 9th Hole on Decker on Monday 
that came down near the regular uptrack, north aspect, limited visibility, and 
one slab avalanche from a distance on Wednesday at 2100m on a steep, rocky 
south aspect on Tremor. Otherwise, just snowballing and pinwheeling on solar 
aspects in the afternoons. 

Snow conditions were variable depending on aspect. True north aspects in the 
high alpine held 5-15cm of cold, dry snow, sitting on a well settled snowpack. 
Steep solar aspects had a supportive crust in the mornings that broke down 
quickly producing moist snow down to 60cm. All other aspects had supportive 
crust until around noon, and then provided quality corn skiing conditions all 
the way down to 1000m. 

Of note, the glaciers had over 320cm, but were more broken than I've seen in 
previous seasons, yet still easily negotiable. Surprisingly, ski crampons were 
not needed. 

Cheers,
Jeff Van Driel
ACMG ASG
whistlerguides.com
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