ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Archive

Saturday, March 3, 2007

[MCR] Jimmy Simpson/Crowfoot Glacier

Toured up towards Jimmy Simpson today and turned back just before
committing to the final slope before the col. Skied down to the valley
bottom and continued up and onto Crowfoot Glacier before deciding to
call it quits for the day.

Weather: started calm with broken skies, deteriorating early in the day.
>>From about 10:00 am onwards skies were overcast and wind was blowing
strong from the west. Major redistribution of the recent storm snow,
which I am guessing was around 20 cm but for the most part is now either
in Saskatchewan or in big pillows on lee slopes and cross-loaded
gullies. Temps were mild throughout the day (-6 to -1 C). Once again the
weather forecast, which called for light SW winds, was wrong... although
I've been used to getting better weather than forecast over the past few
weeks!

Snowpack: 75-100 cm at treeline and facetted/bottomless in sheltered
areas with 10-20 cm of slabbing storm snow on top. Windward slopes (e.g.
Crowfoot moraines) are either bare or rock hard. Lee slopes were loading
quickly as we retreated, and highly reactive to ski cutting (several
results in the 0.5 size), and I "accidentally" triggered a sz 0.5 (8-10
cm deep, 10 m wide, ran 15 m -- as I deaked out of the main gully and
back onto the "bench" on the way down). Crowfoot moraines/glacier, as
one might expect (it's NW facing), is totally scoured. Travel was mainly
good, skiing quality ranged from good (not much) to fair (hard windslab,
facets).

Hazards: Cornices are a big hazard right now -- the ones overhanging the
south side (climber's right) of the Crowfoot moraines/glacier drainage
were growing rapidly and one collapsed sometime today bringing down a
few refrigerator-sized rocks with it.

Regards,
Tom Wolfe
AG
_______________________________________________
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.

[MCR] Commonwealth Creek area

Skied around Commonwealth ck. today with a couple of dozen other people. Not exactly a wilderness experience.

The north facing chutes above Tiyst Lake are skied out and almost mogulled. We skied the gentle terrain on the south facing avalanche path west of "Super slope" and had decent shallow powder skiing that was suprisingly non sun affected. We then skied the Commonwealth loop from the west to east and had good skiing after the 1st slope below the col.

Temperatures rose during the day from -8c at 930am at the road to -1c at 2pm at treeline. Clouds rolled in around 1200 so I would assume the sun affect was minimal on all but the steep SE faces. Winds were probably 50-70kms SW at the ridges all day.

The snowpack was pleasantly strong everywhere we travelled and the snow surface has been beaten up enough by the wind, sun and warm air that at present it isn't a concern as a future weak layer. The avalanche danger did not increase signifigantly during the day as the forecasted "hot" weather did not arrive.

The biggest hazard seemed to be other people as a couple of pretty ugly places had ski tracks in them.

Larry Stanier

Mountain Guide

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

[MCR] Feb 04 Surface Hoar Discussion

I fear that my last post which mentioned the Feb 04 surface hoar was
oversimplified. The reason I mentioned this layer in my post in the first
place was that I was worried someone might misinterprate
the fact that we were skiing bigger more agressive lines as a sign
stability/hazard had improved. Reality is that in most locations of the
interior, it is still a grave concern, however here at Battle Abbey, after
carefull study it is not...

I regret this over simplification and urge folks to make real sure this
scary beast of a layer is not hiding under your ski's! Here is how I came to
be comfortable that at Battle Abbey it was not an issue.
1: First of all the layer is not only surface hoar but a collection of
possible crusts, facets and/or a combo of these. It has caused many
accidents and close calls. So at first I was very wary.
2. I received information from a credible source, one of the owners who has
been guiding at the Abbey since Feb 7th said that this layer was isolated
there and that high winds, sun and settlement had all contributed to
strengthening its bond. Our tests over a few days also showed an improving
trend.
3. We skied conservative terrain to start the week, using many tools to test
stability: ski cutting convex rolls, looking for any signs of weakness,
doing shear and compression tests, skiing known indicator slopes and
checking out stability in frequent flyers (slopes that avalanche often).
4. Finally after a few days of this, I eased my way carefully into some
steeper terrain in the most conservative manner. We also called stability
good in the Alpine, treeline and below treeline every day since I got here.
Finally we eased our way carefully in bigger lines.

I appologize for my original oversimplication and attribute my oversight or
rather undersight, to the fact that the MCR serves both the public and the
proffessional. As such I tried to find the middle ground, not telling pro's
how to do their jobs, while at the same time giving the typical
recreationalist a caution. In reality it is much more accurate to be very
precise and informative rather than taking anything for granted, after all
the pro's are used to sifting through info they do not need that could be
crucial to a less experienced person's decision making. Never take anything
for granted!
Happy and safe skiing, Eric, ACMG guide

_________________________________________________________________
Your Space. Your Friends. Your Stories. Share your world with Windows Live
Spaces. http://spaces.live.com/?mkt=en-ca

_______________________________________________
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.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

[MCR] Battle Abbey- Selkirks

I thought I would mention the Feb 04 Surface Hoar as I am sure it is causing
some confussion as to its current hazard. It has been a big problem in many
areas of the Interior Ranges, just as it has not been a big problem for many
of these areas neighbours. There for it is an isolated problem making that
much harder to judge.
Here at the Abbey as I observed also at RK Heli skiing in the Purcells and
Monashee Powder in the Monashee's the February 04 surface hoar has been an
isolated phenomenon and not been the persistant problem causing natural and
skier triggered avalanches. In these areas, this layer of concern is still
evident anywhere between 50 and 100cm and shows up now as slightly stiffer
layer where the density change is slight, the bond strengthening well and no
sigh of surface hoar crystals. In shallower areas facets can be found above
it. Generally it is producing hard and resistant planar or borken results.
Here at Battle Abbey we have found snow stability in all elevations to be
good with only the storm snow sluffing. Very thin soft slabs were found in
lee loaded areas. We are taking advantage of the good stability and weather
to ski bigger and steeper lines off summits. As many other locations are
doing. At the same time some locations are still reporting avalanches on
this layer. Since this is the case, I suggest before comitting to a slope,
dig a few quick test pits down 1meter 20 and if its there, compression/shear
tests will reveal it. Solar aspects are also beginning to soften up enough
that the next very warm day I will deffinately proceed with greater caution
especially at Tree line and below. Happy Trails, Eric Dumerac, ACMG guide.

_________________________________________________________________
Your Space. Your Friends. Your Stories. Share your world with Windows Live
Spaces. http://spaces.live.com/?mkt=en-ca

[MCR] Nelson Region.

Hey all, just spent a few days of high quality skiing/working in the WhiteH2O
Region as Brian Gould had mentioned.
The skiing has been great down here, but they certainly do have some snowpack
issues. Today, skiing into a clearing on a well packed up track our group
experienced a large settlement that a group member 50m away felt, of note that
we never stepped off the track. Wondering what had settled and suspecting the
Feb
4layer, went looking. A frightening CTE 3, down 60cm, on V overtop of a
suncrust layer was found. Surface hoar crystals were perfectly preserved at 10mm
in size. Entire block slowly slid out part way for a sudden planer result, this
was on an East aspect at 1700m, 20 degrees.
The previous day down 40cm on a North aspect at 2200m the most amazing Graupel
layer was discovered, CTE 8, collapse. The layer simple flowed out of the
column when it failed, the perfect ball bearing sliding layer.
This particular day, I heard one group yelling avalanche and saw the debris
moving with skiers along side it, no one caught. Then descending back into the
ski area, witnessed several skier triggered avalanches size 1-2, very close to
the ski area boundary. All running in the previous nights loading. Busy weekend
for the Cold smoke fest, with lots of people running around in the backcountry.
As Brian mentioned the locals must be aware of the snowpack issues, through
their own knowledge and the local bulletins, due to the amount of big
attractive,uniform lines that have not been skied yet.
As Karl mentioned, there really is a serious issue in the snowpack that will
probably last the rest of this winter. Remember, a layer of surface hoar that
is well established will often require aprox 80-100cm on top of it for it to
become more reactive.
Be brave, safe and curious.

Rich Marshall
Mountain Guide.
_______________________________________________
Rockies/Intalex brought to you by
The Informalex: The World's Biggest Guides' Meeting
http://informalex.org

----- End forwarded message -----

Sunday, February 25, 2007

FWD: [MCR] Barrvox

Hi Ken,

Hope you are doing well, I am emailing you since I am the MCR editor and am tasked with watching the MCR. Our commitee has recently agreed to put more emphasis on keeping the MCR clean. I am assuming that you intended to send your Barryvox message out on the Informalex, and sent it to the MCR by mistake??

The Informalex is the place for opinion like these, the MCR is for mountain conditions. I think if there was some kind of official recall or otherwise then we might consider it, but my guess is that a message like this on the MCR will only undermine public confidence in Barryvox, but they have nowhere to go with this info since this is not an online forum they can respond to and ask questions. If indeed the Barryvox is not good then OK, but lets not broadcast that to the public via the MCR . . .

Can we keep the MCR to mtn conditions please? Thanks man.

Grant

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Public Mountain Conditions Report <mcr@informalex.org>
Reply-To: mcr@informalex.org
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 18:10:44 -0800

Hi All

I have given up on my Barryvox opto 3000 completely. This week it
completely died and would not switch on. I changed the batteries,
scrubbed the terminals, Etc Etc. I will send it back to Barryvox But I
will not request that they fix it or send me another model or anything.
I have lost all confidence in this unit/company.

Ken wylie IFMGA

Ken Wylie
Adventure Programs Department
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road
P.O. Box 30 10
Kamloops, B.C.
Canada
V2C-5N3
(250) 371-5844
kwylie@tru.ca
www.adventureprograms.ca

_________________________________________________________________
Need personalized email and website? Look no further. It's easy
with Doteasy $0 Web Hosting! Learn more at www.doteasy.com

[MCR] Barrvox