Ningunsaw March 1-4, 2017

<p>We skied at Ningunsaw Pass from March 1-4, 2017. Photos: 1) Eagle Mountain (West facing) on March 1 2) Layers at valley bottom (Red Flat Creek) on March 1 3) Naturals on Eagle Mountain (West facing) on March 2 MARCH 1 We skied 5-10cm fresh snow on a supportive crust on a forested NE facing slope below treeline. Temp was about -3C, calm, & overcast. Skiing quality was good. We dug down to Red Flat Creek looking for water and observed the following layers. creek bed ice (first time since 2011 that the creek has completely frozen, due to the lowest snow pack observed during this period for this time of the year) 0-20cm - pencil - river ice 20-30cm - 4 fingers - facets 30-32cm - pencil - crust 32-34 - 4 fingers - facets 34-36 - pencil - crust 36-50cm - 4 fingers - facets 50-70cm - knife- crust combo cluster 70-73 - 4 fingers - facets 73-78 - pencil - crust 78-82 - 1 finger 82-92 - 4 fingers through to fist - Pre-storm snow MARCH 2 A storm started during the night between March 1 & 2. Strong SW winds overnight gradually decreasing to moderate throughout the day and then calm in the evening. The day was overcast with a temp of -2C. The storm brought 25-35cm of dense powder. We skied a forested W facing slope below treeline. Ski pen was 35cm. Our dog enjoyed the firm base to run on but we missed the bottomless pow we enjoy so much. Powder skiing conditions were good. After the storm cleared we saw four naturals on the west face of Eagle Mountain. One size 2.5 natural in subalpine had a long wide crown. Three naturals in treeline were size 1-1.5. No step down observed so failure likely occured on the most recent buried crust-storm snow interface. MARCH 3 We skied W facing avalanche slopes below treeline. HST was 30-35cm. Ski pen was 30cm. The day was overcast with a temp of -6C, calm, with light precip all day. We observed a size 1.5 natural on a W facing slope below treeline below a convex feature on unsupported terrain. Crown depth estimated to be about the height of the storm snow. We experienced wumphs while breaking trail throughout the day at all elevations up to treeline. A hasty hand sheer test revealed easy planar sheer with storm snow failing on suspected buried surface hoar above the supportive crust. Snow stability was unreactive to our skiing (no shooting cracks or sluff). The powder was less dense than March 2 because it dried out from the cooler temp. Skiing quality was fast & excellent. A change in weather pattern began in the evening of March 3 with cooler strong winds gusting from the north combined with light precip. Snow redistribution & new wind slab formation occured overnight. Visibility was <2km throughout the day with an obscured sky. MARCH 4 During the night between March 3 & 4 moderate to strong winds gusting from the north reloaded snow back onto the alpine south facing slopes and features. The day was calm and overcast with a temp of -12C. Winds started to pick up in mid afternoon with light precip. We skied W facing avalanche slopes below treeline and found dense wind affected snow in exposed areas and excellent powder in sheltered areas (although slightly denser than March 2). Storm snow settled about 10cm overnight. Pockets of windslab at all elevations are becoming a concern. We did not experience any wumphing. Ski pen was about 20cm. Skiing quality varied from good-excellent. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Dense trees, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Convex slopes, Steep slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Snow Conditions

Deep powder, Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Cold, Stormy, Windy, Cloudy.