Rocking on Rossiter with the MINions

Kootenay Backcountry Guides , Friday 24th January, 2025 8:15PM

Skied a mix of open slopes and steep trees. Solar aspects (S to SE) showed sun effects, while shaded aspects (SW and W) provided protected skiing conditions with excellent low-density snow. Solar aspects (S to SE) warmed throughout the day, with sun effects moistening stellar crystals observed on these slopes.

A melt-freeze crust (MFcr) was observed 10–20 cm below the surface on solar aspects (S to SE) beneath the new snow received yesterday. Dec 6 surface hoar was found approximately 120 cm down but was unreactive during deep tap testing. Jan 7 surface hoar was present, lying above a MFcr at 30–40 cm depth in the snowpack. A non-propagating result was observed on the Jan 7 surface hoar during an extended column test on a hard tap. (ECTN20 @ 40cm). A column test also produced a sudden result on the Jan 7 SH in the hard range. (CTH21 @ 40 cm)

Observed one natural wet loose avalanche from afar on a very steep rocky° SW-facing slope.