Skied yesterday Friday in the Commonwealth Creek area. Temps between -22 and -8, mix of sun and cloud. About 15 - 20 cm new snow over the previous 24 hrs made for good skiing, even in old tracks and on southern aspects. I dug a pit in the open trees below the Tryst Lake chutes and found a snowpack that is facetted throuhgout, but pretty well settled with a snow depth of 205 cm. No shears noted in top 150 cm on compression test but keep in mind that this was a "fat spot".
Different story on the southern aspect in the first avalanche path east of the huge slope that produced the deadly class three avalanche two weeks ago.Very thin and weak snow pack in the rocky terrain at the top with multiple suncrust and facet layers made us descend in the trees to the left and not go out into the avalanche path until much further down, where the snowpack was thicker and felt better. Also, the new snow was starting to crack on the suncrust 20cm down.
The fracture line of the above mentioned avalanche is still well visible and most impressive is how far the fracture propagated!
More snow in the forecast for next week! Stay safe!
Jorg Wilz
Mountain Guide
1-800 506 7177 or 1-403 678 2717
www.ontopmountaineering.com
www.ontopmountaineering.com