ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued November 8th, 2007
It has been another warm, windy and mostly dry week in the Rockies. We have had very little information coming in from guides in the field. This could have something to do with the generally terrible skiing and climbing conditions. As a gross generalization ice climbing conditions have deteriorated in the past week. The avalanche hazard has increased, the temperatures have melted a lot of ice and there is snow on the rock at mid elevations and above. You can probably take a wild guess as to what all that wind and warm temperatures have done to the skiing. The temperatures are forecasted to drop a little over the weekend so there is still ice in the future.
Conditions are slowly improving in the Columbias but it is still the same early season problems. It is probably precipitating in the Columbias as you read this. For more detailed information, go to the Glacier National Park avalanche bulletin.
Banff and Glacier National Parks are now producing bulletins. I strongly encourage you to use these excellent products. If you have any plans for travel in avalanche terrain in these parks, read them throughout the season. This will help you develop a clearer picture of the conditions as they evolve over the winter and allow you to make better decisions when you are in the terrain.
The Canadian Avalanche Center will begin producing their public avalanche bulletins next week. Therefore, this will be the last ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the season. We shall start with the summaries again in late spring when the CAC stops producing bulletins. As with the parks bulletins I strongly encourage you to make full use of the CAC's fabulous product. ACMG guides will still be posting MCR's from their travels to supplement the Parks and CAC's regular bulletins.
Thank You for tuning in to our reports and for all the great feedback we have had. Have a fun and safe winter!
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide