[MCR] ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued April 29th, 2010

ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued April 29th, 2010 ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued April 29th, 2010. This is the first ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for 2010. Periodic avalanche bulletins from the Canadian Avalanche Center, Mountain National Parks and Kananaskis country will continue for awhile yet. Last weeks heat wave seems to have had a dramatic effect on the mountain snowpack. Observations are limited as most backcountry ski operations are closed for the winter. However, the limited observations all point to a strong, surface, melt freeze crust throughout the Rockies and Columbia mtns. from that warm period. This melt freeze crust, along with the large scale avalanche cycle that occurred during the heat, has taken most of the sting out of the persistent weak layers from the winter. However, there is no question that some BIG avalanches, releasing deep in the snowpack, will continue to occur with rapid warming from daytime heating or big rains for awhile. The melt freeze crust is presently being buried by snow and this trend is likely to continue given the forecast. As often happens in the spring, it is dumping in the Eastern Rockies and things are much drier along the Divide of the Rockies and in the Columbia mtns. Kananaskis country is reporting 50cms of new snow as of this morning(thursday) and it was still snowing at 10am. The wind is probably blowing and K Country's avalanche forecasters are calling the avalanche danger EXTREME in the alpine and treeline for tomorrow and saturday! Much less snow has fallen along the Rockies Divide (3 cm wednesday night at Lake Louise, 6cm at Sunshine, 10cm at Parkers Ridge) and in the Columbia mtns. In these areas, the few people reporting talk about good "dust on crust" skiing treeline and above. Below treeline, especially in well travelled places like Rogers Pass, it is either skiing in frozen debris, alders and ruts or isothermal wallowing when things warm up. Most valley bottom locati ons have reported rain rather than snow. Alpine climbing conditions WERE pretty good for awhile but we will have to see how much new snow we get through the extended period of grey forecasts. Assume that all cornices are massive and wobbly until you have observed them to be otherwise. >From all reports, it seems glacier travel conditions are pretty good in the Columbia Mountains and along the Rockies Divide from Mt. Robson to the Wapta. The notable exception seems to be Mt. Athabasca North Face area with a very thin snowpack. Lots of talk of bare ice in the steepish Rockies glaciers and ice faces. The wind did blow up high this winter! Ice climbing is almost done but climbable ice persists in some very shady locations for shady climbers. The usual caveats about warm temperatures, weak ice, hanging daggers, cornices, avalanche hazard etc obviously apply even more as we get into spring. Snow line is just above my house in Canmore as of 1pm thursday. The local mountains look more snowy than they have all winter. The scrambling and long rock routes on the east slope of the Rockies will need some much better weather to dry them out. Low elevation cragging will probably work this weekend if you don't mind climbing in down with a heat pack in your chalk bag:) Skiing could be good but I am trying to be a patient grasshopper, waiting for the glory of corn right from the top of a BIG peak. Hopefully that happens SOON! Larry Stanier ACMG/IFMGA Mountain 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.