Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains, issued june 15th, 2006.
There has been relatively little change in the mountain conditions in the past week. Some warm days and some large rain events have continued the trend towards summer conditions below 3000m. At 7pm on June 15th in the Lake Louise area it appeared to be raining to at least 3350m(11,000ft.) No recent new snow at all on the N face of Mt Temple. Approximately 10mm of rain fell in the Lake OHara area today and snow is almost non-existent in the OHara area to treeline.
There was a report of two large slab avalanches(size 2.5) releasing with daytime heating the afternoon of June 12th on 40-50 degree east facing terrain around 3000m on the Wapta.
Travel conditions are generally not great at the present, wet rock and wet weak snow being the main characteristics.
Conditions in the Rockies and Selkirks will remain poor until we get back into a period of colder overnight temperatures. Again, all that wet snow SHOULD freeze nicely with a cold, clear night. If it the skies do clear, pay attention to the strength of the snow and try and be off any avalanche terrain and glaciers before the snow gets sloppy with the daytime heating.
Alpine rock routes on the east slope of the Rockies and on south and west facing terrain in the Columbia are thoroughly soaked right now but could dry off fairly quickly when(and if) the rain stops.
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide