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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued
The period of spectacular October weather seems to be over and the greyness is descending. The forecast looks like it could be just light precipitation amounts and relatively warm temps for this time of year but it promises to be a moist and grey weekend in the mountains.
Underneath whatever precipitation falls there is some slippery rock, not much waterfall ice and some scattered, darn good alpine climbing conditions. If, and how quickly the good alpine climbing conditions come back really depends on how much snow we get before the clear weather returns. Obviously, the skier in me hopes it just keeps tinkling snowflakes till sometime in March. The alpine climber hopes it stops snowing now and clears up. Time will tell.
It has generally been too warm for much widespread waterfall ice to form. I am not super optimistic that this will change but some of the higher gullies may be forming in the next few days. There is some moisture in those hills, it just needs to get a little colder at tree line.
Glacier travel conditions, from my experience and most reports is reasonably good for this time of year but it is autumn/early winter so rope on and eyes wide open is the only way to go.
There may be enough snow cover for skiing on the glaciers but just forget about low elevations and please wait for good visibility for glacier skiing as there is still lots of open and 1/2 covered crevasses.
And, as is usual for this time of year, somewhere, in some gully, there is enough snow to trigger an avalanche that even if it doesn't bury you, takes you for an ugly ride. So, be aware of how the snow looks and feels and carry a beacon, probe and shovel if you are heading up into snow covered avalanche terrain.
Finally, my apologies for the late report. It must have something to due with hibernation or daylight savings time.
Larry Stanier
ACMG Mountain Guide
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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.
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_______________________________________________
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.
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