Saskatchewan Glacier to Castleguard

chalkstones , Saturday 4th May, 2024 10:05PM

A full day ski up the Saskatchewan Glacier to Castleguard Mountain. At 6am, travel was fast and overnight freeze made for a supportive snowpack in the lower valley. Glacier travel up the Sask was good, coverage variable, probing 0-300cm+ of firm, wind hammered snow. Snow quality improved around 2600m, North and East aspects. Nearing the summit, 2800m+, NE aspects had small sections of windslab, storm slab and suncrust to navigate. A mini storm slab released while boot packing, likely a pocket of the recent 5cm that fell last week. The descent off Castlegaurd was terrible skiing on crust but improved significantly on the lower slopes where the sun had warmed the surface. Cruisy skiing over moist snow to the toe. No avalanches in ski terrain observed today, however lots of wet loose in steep gully features and rock fall in the afternoon as it warmed up.