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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