Just finished a week with a Thompson Rivers University group in Frisby Creek, northwest of Revelstoke.
We were ski touring in Frisby Creek May 2-8.
Stability was generally good, with low avalanche danger in the mornings. Avalanche danger rose to high most afternoons with warm temperatures. Lots of avalanche activity on rock slabs with many glide slabs releasing. Over the week approximately 50cm of new snow fell at 2100m. We were camped at 1500m. Travel below 1500m is not recommended (isothermal, lots of avalanche activity, and many areas down valley without any snow). No slab avalanches noted, just moist point releases and glide crack releases. Whumphing above 2200m on a northeast aspect glacier, about 40cm of new snow, and steady southwest winds stopped us about 30m vertical short of getting into a col on May 6th. Felt like a winter upper snowpack with a clean easy shear down 30 cm and wind slab stiffness above that.
Good travel in the mornings with a light freeze most nights. Ski crampons were very useful to help climb out of the valley in the mornings. Boot top powder on the north aspects above 2000m over a variety of crusts, and corn snow on the south aspects. Generally very good ski quality considering it is May in the Monashees! A light crust over isothermal snow below 1700m made for some interesting skiing back to camp some days. We climbed and skied several peaks in the area.
Less snow than average on the glaciers, but glacier travel felt quite reasonable with a rope on. Probed 3+ meters on most of the glaciers.
Early starts (up at 04:30 each morning) and early finishes (back at camp by 13:30 most days).
There is still winter up there if you can get up high. Beautiful weather in the valley in Revelstoke this afternoon, good for rock climbing. Must be Spring.
Terry Palechuk
Ski Guide
Jordy Shepherd
Mountain Guide