Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued July 12th, 2006
We are well into midsummer conditions at all elevations throughout the Rockies, Purcells and Selkirks.
Below treeline there is basically no snow except in old avalanche deposits. At treeline snow is very rare and only in old drifts, avalanche deposits and deep dark north facing features.
In the alpine snow is still plentiful above 3000m's but it very much has the feel of summer snow and has been through many melt freeze cycles. The strength of the snow in the alpine is variable. Alpinists can assume it will be strong after a cold clear night but becoming weak and staying that way with poor freezes, daytime heating or during rain events.
Glaciers are starting to show lots of ice at lower elevations and on sun affected aspects. Keep in mind the potential for rockfall along the margins of bare ice faces. A number of hot summers have melted away lots of old ice and started to expose perched rocks and boulders that have not seen the light of day for hundreds of years.
A lot of rain fell in the last couple of days but all reports indicate that the freezing level was very high and no signifigant snowfall in the alpine was reported.
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide