| 15-11-17
Checked out Middle Mountain in the Southern Cariboos.
Snowmobile access is right from the Wells Gray Park Rd (Clearwater Valley Road)- located approximately 12 km from the Information Center in Clearwater on Hwy #5. Public parking is located at the base of FSR # Eighty.
Below Tree LIne (BTL) Clearwater has 30 cm of snow at 800 m depending on aspect. Average ground cover is not passable on skis until 1500 m.
Tree Line (TL) Average height of snow at TL is 100 cm depending on aspect. Snowpack is upside right with a sturdy base and about 30-40 cm of ski pen. Travel is generally super good for this time of year. Steeper slopes still have a few obstacles to navigate but low angle is good to go.
The past 48 hours included heavy precip inputs with up to 40 cm of new snow in this area. Due to extreme storm conditions yesterday visibility was limited to the trees in front of us. We heard at least one large avalanche off the North side of Raft Peak around 2:00 pm yesterday, those steep north facing start zones were rapidly loading. Air temps were conducive to rapid bonding at the moderate elevations, we did not get any slabbing and only had surface sloughs in 35+ deg glades.
Alpine (ALP) We did not reach into the alpine but strong winds and heavy precipitation occurring yesterday would ensure that wind slabs of various thickness exist with heavy loading on lee slopes, possibly even some significant cornice development. There is a basal crust in some locations that has seen some avalanche activity in the interior Columbia ranges. I would be very cautious venturing into bigger alpine terrain until the new snow has a chance to settle and the usual precautions of avoiding terrain traps and loaded features should be a travel focus. There is a real snowpack now and its capable of producing large human triggered avalanches.
Trophy Chalet We travelled to Trophy Chalet area on 15-11-13. Snowpack was thinner on this side with about 80 cm of snow just east of the Chalet and heavily wind affected in the open areas. Access to this area is about 12.5 km rd Eighty heading up the southern facing slopes.
There is also excellent snowmobile/ski access to the Trophy Flower Meadows which offers up good low angle skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. Access is via rd Eighty- turn left at 4km then right at 8 km- this takes you to the trailhead parking lot. Good day trips for people in the Kamloops/Sun Peaks region on an easy wide trail access to the Trophies. There is also good cell service in the Flower Meadows near Sheila Lake and the parking lot, as well as some areas on Raft Peak including the ridge top at 17 km rd Eighty above Fro Bowl.
Enjoy the excellent start of powder season 15/16!
Dana Foster Ski and Hiking Guide CAA Professional Member
Snowy Mountain Alpine Tours Authentic Mountain Trips O 250 674 2988 M 250 674 7386
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