Turned around above the pencil on Polar Circus today around 10 am. Below this
point the snow was almost all either stone hard avalanche debris or spectacular
snow/ice. On the traverse though, there was still a facetted base to the
snowpack and some recent windslabs. It was not terribly scary at 10am but with
daytime heating it felt likely it would/could get scary.
Extensive avalanche control had been done on and above Polar Circus by Parks
Canada as part of last weeks recovery effort. It is probably about as safe as
it gets on the lower route and above the route but the effects of daytime
heating on the shallow facetted areas and the recent small windslabs provided
just a bit too much uncertainty in a very high consequence place for us.
Larry Stanier
ACMG 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.
|