Spent last 3 days in the Rockies based out of Num-Ti-Jah lodge (level II
avalanche course). The word in the Rockies right now is "variable". From
deep snow pack here to coreshot there. Shallow powder to boilerplate
windslab. Yet safe and good travel is totally possible, weather awesome, and
good skiing can be found. There are still some deep instabilities lurking.
These are in the form of shallow areas that will propagate and deep areas
that are subject to a heavy load trigger, like a cornice or bunched group of
skiers. Also stay away from steep rolls, unsupported slopes. Everyday we saw
fresh cornice failures causing avalanches up to sz. 3.5. We were getting
wumphs at Tree-line in shallow areas. North of the highway on the mostly
South aspects ski quality is not so great with the wind slab but travel is
good as are the views. It was better South of the highway on the mostly
North aspects. Skiing up to Crowfoot Mt. and its adjacent icefield was very
good and did not see any sags (where snow sags into a crevace). We also went
up the West aspect of Jimmy Junior from Bow lk. up to Tree-line where the
big open upper slopes scared us back down. Get out there but be
conservative. We were calling avalanche hazard; Alpine: Considerable,
Tree-line: Moderate with areas of Considerable
(steep,convex,shallow,corniced etc), BTL: Moderate.
Happy Trails, Eric Dumerac
For the Experts Info:
WX: Mostly clear, Nil, -3, -23, C-M SW, M-Prev blo-snow.
Snpk: Valley bottom HS; 68, TL: 135-180, ALP: 180 to 260+ on glacier.
Srfc; F-4F, mid; settled 1F-P mx and basal 1F FC & DH. Consistent CTE\STE PC
15-20dn on HST interface. CTM and CTH 40-50dn FC's mainly 1F on P. In
shallow areas getting CTH SP FC on cr near bottom. The Oct, Nov and Dec cr's
seem to be mostly deter. F F G.
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