Mearly Gone, but Holding On!

Today we went riding from Koko staging to have a look at the effects of recent warm temperatures on the snowpack. Access was good with 15-25 cm of new snow on the trail. This new snow is sitting on dirt in the lower reaches and rapidly fading now that snow has switched to rain. We chose to go up the Smith basin to gain elevation. Total height of snow averaged 250 cm at tree-line. There is 25 cm of new snow, and it continued snowing at 3 cm per hour through the day. Below the new snow, the snowpack is saturated with water. It behaved isothermal (it has reached its melting point) to boots and we were post holing up to our thighs off the machine. It was supportive to the sled however, and felt firm under the new snow while riding. A good freeze with incoming colder temps should turn this into a supportive crust. Winds were calm in the morning and increased to light SW in the afternoon. With snow available for transport, and trees beginning to shed around us in the breeze, we expect wind slabs to be building in the alpine and treeline on lee slopes. This will be our last visit to the Elkford region this season! Huge thanks to the Elkford Snowmobile Club for all the hard work keeping access open in a challenging season! We appreciate it heaps, and we’ll see you next season!