is back, at least for now. Plenty of snow transport with the moderate
southwest winds gusting to strong above 2000m. There was also some snow
falling, but I think the wind transport was having a greater affect on
accumulations.
We circumnavigated Ymir Peak to check out the conditions on various
aspects. We skied an elevation range of 1750m to 2300m. A supportive
crust (doesn't break when you ski on it) exists on all aspects and
elevations we were on. Up to 15-20cm of new snow sits on the crust and
made the skiing very enjoyable. The snow wasn't bonding well to the
crust but it also hadn't been blown yet into a slab, so we didn't see
any avalanche activity. The air temperature was steady around -7 to -8
depending on elevation.
We managed to get a lot of good turns on various aspects, but we
employed the usual cautions: stuck to low angle terrain, avoided convex
rolls, skied slopes one at a time, etc. Looks like the storm will
continue for another day, so I'd expect stability to deteriorate as the
new snow slabs up. I'd be employing extra cautions if I went out tomorrow.
Play safely.
Craig Hollinger,
ACMG Assistant Ski Guide.
_______________________________________________
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.