[MCR] Monashees-west of the Perry River-North of the TCH

1st day on skis at Mustang Powder in the western monashees. Numerous snowpack tests between 2100 and 1650m found no significant shears at present and an average of around 1m snow to around 1700m. Below 1700 the snow depth tapers off dramatically and skiing gets boney. Ski quality was surprisingly good on planar slopes above 1700, especially considering all the winds of the past week. Higher up the wind has done more damage and we had some rock issues in some high treeline, wind effected features. Windslabs are probably lurking somewhere treeline and above.

Generally, the snowpack has weakened during the cold weather and it will be interesting to see how it reacts to the 1st big snow load.

Still, a much better snowpack than I had feared.

Larry Stanier
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
laristan@telus.net