Good skiing up on high norths

Mountain Conditions Report

<p>Searching for dry, crust-free snow, I guided the long trek up Divide Creek today. We nearly made it to the ½ marathon distance. </p> <p>On this straight and mostly protected north facing terrain, the overnight temperature crust was strong and present until ~1900 metres in the morning. We found good quality dry snow above ~2200 metres; albeit with some sections of wind press, wind slab, and intermittent buried wind slabs. Route choice and terrain decisions were prominent.</p> <p>Spot probing in the moraines next to the glacier revealed a shallow snowpack of 70-130 cm. Up high below the cliffs of Mt. Whyte (lee terrain feature) we found a significantly deeper and more settled pack up to 220 cm.</p> <p>We observed howling winds on ridge tops, with a few directly observed loose dry spindrift avalanches pouring off the cliffs. We gave these cliffs a good berth.</p> <p>The crust had melted for our afternoon ski out, but the snow was still supportive down to the road level at ~1700 metres. </p> <p>This is the tricky in-between season for the spring snowpack. It'll get worse for a few days before it gets better.</p> <p>Ken BÉLANGER<br /> Elevation Guides</p>