Did the classic Surprise Pass tour today (Nov 21). Total loop from Lake Louise round-trip was about 5 hours. We (Err, I mean Nick) had to break trail the whole way as there were no signs of previous travel from Saddleback Pass onwards.
Snow Conditions: Pits were dug just below Saddleback Pass and then at the top of Surprise Pass. Both offered the same results and similar to what Park's Avalanche Bulletin has been stating: moderate to hard compression tests failing on the thin facet layer immediately above the Nov 7 rain crust. Below the crust is pencil hard snow to the ground. The new storm snow appears to be bonding well to the wind slab from last weeks wind event. Ski pen ranged from 20cm to 35cm. Weather conditions all day were calm winds and snowing steadily at less than 1cm per hour with the temperature being -6 Celsius. Total snow depth at Saddleback Pass and Surprise Pass were both a little more than 100cm.
Now for the goods: knee deep powder top to bottom. The only rock hit was the first turn out of the pass. Some old avy debris was hit under the storm snow about halfway down the run but can be avoided by deeking skiers left. The rock garden just before valley bottom is not an issue since there is plenty of supportive snow.
Note: I have heard stories of folks, while skiing up Sheol Valley, getting suckered up the wrong gully thinking it was Surprise Pass. Be sure to go right to the end of the valley. The proper gully is much shorter and less steep than the first couple sucker gullies (which would put you somewhere undesirable on the ridge of Fairview).
Hard to believe this is November in the Rockies. A little wind though and it will be a different story up there.
Sean Isaac
AAG