Million Dollar Couloir, Cayoosh

The Cayoosh zone was busy yesterday, with multiple parties skiing the E facing slopes of the Armchair Gl. The approach road from the highway and the trees above the lower lake were all well filled in providing easy travel. The slopes between TL and 2000m had approx. 10-20cm of wind blown snow on top of a melt freeze crust. Above 2000m conditions were reasonably good, with some wind affected powder. Everything around ridge top, including the Swivel rock col, was wind scoured and firm. The ridge traverse into Million Dollar was in great condition, with chalky snow covering almost all of the loose rock (see photo). The exit via 7 mile creek was well filled in, with plenty of crossings and great coverage around the marked trail.

Initially ski cut the wind exposed NE slope above, as well as the entrance to the couloir itself. Neither yielded results, however with a better view of the line it was obvious that there had been some loading. One last cut just above the steepest section of the chute triggered a windslab. Approx. 30cm thick, it propagated across almost the full width of the couloir and ran to the choke at the bottom. During the approach on the Armchair Gl, we also saw evidence of numerous sz1 loose wet and a few big chunks of cornice that had fallen down onto the upper slopes of the glacier.

Cold and clear with light NW winds moving some snow at ridgetop. Some sun affect on steep solar aspects.