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Recent ski conditions in the Rockies

Jeff Relph, Saturday 3rd April, 2021 1:30PM

Mountain Conditions Report

<p>From March 27-April 2, An ACMG TAP Apprentice Ski Guide Exam was based out of Lake Louise. We skied a variety of objectives on the 93 N, Little Yoho, Kananaskis, and Lake Louise area. </p> <p>Weather:</p> <p>The week started off with a major storm that brought up to 40cm of snow accompanied by moderate to strong SW winds. Larger snowfall amounts fell on the 93 N than other areas during this storm. A cold front swept through the next day with lows dropping to -20C in the alpine and continued strong to extreme winds. After the short lived cold snap, a significant warming event occurred on Wednesday afternoon bringing freezing levels up to 2000m and strong solar effect on S to W aspects. Strong to extreme SW winds, cloudy skies, and warmer temperatures bringing freezing levels up to 1700m continued on Thursday and Friday.</p> <p>Snowpack: </p> <p>15-40cm of storm snow from the March 28-29 storm has been redistributed by strong southwest winds, leaving variable wind-affected surfaces at upper elevations with slabs persisting in immediate leeward features. Scoured surfaces are evident along windward ridge crests. Variable surface crusts exist at low elevations.<br /> The March 19th interface is down 30-60cm across the range and consists of a crust up to ridgetop on southerly aspects. On northerly aspects this surface is a crust below 2100m and old wind slab/facets above.<br /> Persistent weak layers from January and February are visible in the snowpack but remain dormant. The November crust/facet interface persists near the base of the snowpack, being weakest in shallow areas. </p> <p>Avalanche Activity:</p> <p>There was a large avalanche cycle up to size 3 during the storm on March 28th, and we observed evidence of this cycle on subsequent days in most areas visited. Most avalanches observed were combinations of wind slabs and cornices.</p> <p>Cornices are very large and we saw continued evidence of cornice failures during the week, some of which triggered slabs on the slopes below.<br /> On Wednesday, a loose wet cycle was initiated from steep rocky terrain below treeline on S to W aspects in the afternoon from warm temperatures and rising freezing levels.<br /> Despite recent strong winds, we didn’t observe significant wind slab reactivity.</p> <p>Other Notable Hazards:</p> <p>Spring travel conditions and variable surfaces are starting to force creative management. Ski crampons were necessary most days.<br /> Lower elevation snow surfaces changing from melt-freeze crusts to moist snow throughout the day, requiring extra caution. </p> <p>Careful downhill skiing was required in wind exposed and thin snowpack areas where rocks are barely covered.</p> <p>Glacier coverage in general is quite deep in sheltered areas (2 to 3m) but we also saw bare ice in wind exposed areas around Mt.Hector and Mt.Victoria</p> <p>Submitted by: Jeff Relph on behalf of the TAP ASG candidiates</p>

Location: 51.42960168 -116.17602739