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Warm day at Burstall

cmurrayschlitt, Thursday 5th December, 2024 12:06PM
Skied up to Burstall pass, warm day, above freezing in the alpine with light westerly winds. Solar aspects becoming moist with melt freeze crust forming. Observed rollerballing and multiple wet loose up to sz 1.5 avalanches starting in steep solar terrain from exposed rocks. We were initially planning on heading to Burstall peak, but dchanged plan after seeing lots of wind effect in the alpine. Thickness and stiffness for slabs highly variable, from 1f to P, breakable in most places, supportive in others. We ended up finding good skiing on sheltered polar aspects around 2300m with ~30cm of dry fist resistance snow with 3-5mm surface hoar on top of a firmer midpack. Didn't dig a pit, but didn't feel the Oct crust with pole plunges except around 2150m on flat terrain. HS 30-50cm at 1900-2000m 50-70cm 2100-2300m Probed up at 130cm in lee areas in alpine Trail up to pass in ok condition if you don't mind survival skiing on the way down. Robertson glaciar still looking rocky.

Location: 50.76151325 -115.37834764