last week has finally moved off to the east and we can expect a return to
more normal temperatures with a chance of afternoon showers through the
weekend.
Up to 30 cm of fresh snow fell in the mountains above 2000 metres this week
and the upper elevations of all the peaks looked pretty white when the sun
finally came out today. Snowfall amounts were greatest east of the
continental divide and all of the front range mountains will still take a
day or two to dry out. Perhaps by Sunday with a couple of days of warm
temperatures the south facing crags like Yamnuska will not be running with
water.
The peaks in the Main Ranges around Lake Louise showed quite a lot of
surface snowballing today but no deep slabs have been observed lately. As
things warm up and the melt begins again at the upper elevations the
potential for large deep slab avalanches will once again become a factor.
It is pretty wintery above 2500 metres and reports from before the latest
snowfall indicated a mix of breakable crusts and deep foot penetration.
There have been no reports from the Columbia Icefields with the poor
weather, but you could expect fresh snow depths to be slightly less there
with the weather pattern we have had. If you are thinking of anything
alpine for the weekend, a ridge route with no exposure to steep avalanche
prone faces would be your best bet. Beware that the crevasses will be
covered with fresh snow and bridges will be tough to spot. Watch out for
the cornices that are still huge and be prepared for some difficult travel.
Reports from the Columbia Mts are scarce, but the snow line at Roger's Pass
was reported to be just above the highway. Conditions in the interior are
not much different yet with the majority of the winter snowpack lingering
at the upper elevations.
The lower elevation sport climbing areas will once again be the best bet
for pleasant weekend climbing.
Brad White
ACMG Mtn Guide, IFMGA
_______________________________________________
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.