[MCR] ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued

ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued The unusually warm and dry weather of the last week has melted a lot of snow in the Rockies and Columbia Mountains but we are not quite into full summer conditions yet. It seems as though we are a couple of weeks ahead of most seasons but the forecasted cooler temperatures and precipitation for next week will likely slow the process a bit. There is very little snow left in the front ranges of the Rockies and most of the long rock climbs, trail and scrambles are dry. A little further north and west there is still a fair bit of lingering snow above treeline. With the forecast being more cloudy than it has been there will likely be less overnight freezing resulting in difficult travel (post-holing) where the snowpack in shallow or inconsistent. Most climbing routes on Castle Mountain are dry but you should expect to encounter snow and mud on the scramble route or getting to the descent. People have been climbing Athabasca and reporting decent travel conditions after clear nights. In the Columbias, there is still quite a bit of snow above treeline (currently at the hut level in the Bugaboos) and you should expect to travel over lots of snow to access most routes in the Bugaboos and Rogers Pass. The road to the Bugaboos was in poor conditions earlier this spring and has reportedly been fixed recently although a high-ish clearance vehicle is probably still a good idea. The rivers and creeks are still high and there are still some cornices and wet snow avalanches to watch out for. Currently, weather forecasts show dryer conditions to the north (Jasper) and west (Revelstoke) for the weekend. Marc Piché 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. Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.

_______________________________________________
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.