Cool temperatures and 5 to 35 cm of storm snow (depending on elevation)
made for exceptional stability and skiing conditions. Ski crampons would
have made life a lot easier. Night time temperatures at the lodge
dropped to -9 and stayed about 2.5 during the day. I measured a 35 cm
thick crust in the morning, with the temperature 10 cm down at -6. There
are 118 cm of snow at the lodge and over 4 m on the glaciers. Crevasses
and creeks are very well bridged. Rotten snow was not a concern at all
and the corn skiing was excellent. Powder was to be found in cold
aspects and at elevations over 1800 m. The wind effect was not
interfering with the skiing very much. Mountaintop temperatures were
from -9 to -11 in mid-day, with moderate to strong west to southwest
winds. The only new avalanches were two size 2 slabs, triggered in steep
terrain by icefall, that consisted mostly of ice and some of the storm snow.
--
Christoph Dietzfelbinger
Mountain Guide, Bear Mountaineering and Burnie Glacier Chalet
Box 4222
Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Canada
tel. 250-847-3351 fax: 250-847-2854
info@bearmountaineering.ca www.bearmountaineering.ca
_______________________________________________
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.