Belle Mountain, McBride

<p>Weather today in the field was a high of -3C and a low of -6C with overcast skies, winds gusting up to 60km/h from the SE and hourly precipitation amounts of approx. 1cm. No avalanches observed, limited vis and the alpine was obscured. We saw wind slabs building near and well below ridge top on northerly aspects. There was up to 25cm of storm snow in sheltered areas below treeline. We did a couple of test profiles: NE aspect, 1370m elevation, with a height of snow of 130cm. We had repeatable sudden collapse results with compression tests in the hard range down 90-130 within the facet layer at the base of the snowpack. NE aspect, 1900m, with a height of snow of 145cm. Of note is that we had no results with compression tests on the Nov. 13th crust down 85cm. Strong gusts from SE winds are scouring ridge tops and loading n'erly aspects at TL and above. Height of snow at treeline is an average of 125cm. Excellent skiing at treeline and below. We rode mellow and supported open slopes at treeline and below. </p>