Burstall Pass cornice concerns

<p>Left the Burstall parking lot at 10:30am April 5th, returning at 5pm. No recent avalanche activity en route observed beyond a few point release sluffs in steeper areas when the clouds allowed observations. The alpine had recently received new snow. Winds were moderate and gusty from the SW all day with convective flurries. The cloud helped keep the sun off the overhead exposure along the route to/from Burstall pass. Temperatures remained below zero, we did not have a thermometer with us. Cornices along the route up Burstall Pass are of a concern especially along Snow Peak where the cornices seem to be well developed (to this inexperienced eye). Direct solar heating causing a cornice fail is a real possibility as it seems the cornices have yet to release, no debris from previous activity was seen. Avalanche.ca snowpack summaries are warning the basal facet layer can be 'woken up' by the strong April sun. That would especially be likely with a cornice failure. The historical avalanche run out zones on Snow Peak run over the current skin/snowshoe uptrack. Approximately 20-30 cm of new snow was well supported on the ski down from the alpine and through the trees which made for fantastic ski conditions. Routefinding down from the alpine was not ideal for us, we ended up on a convexity with an overhang that could have been avoided, and we were lucky in hindsight. Wise to mitigate such newbie mistakes in the future. Learning in hindsight is not the best, especially in unforgiving circumstances. Caveat - this is the first MIN report from a relative newbie with AST1 completed in December.</p>

Terrain Ridden

Alpine slopes, Convex slopes, Dense trees, Mellow slopes, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Convex slopes, Steep slopes, Sunny slopes.

Snow Conditions

Powder.

Weather Conditions

Cloudy, Stormy, Windy.