Island Alpine Guides

Island Alpine Guides AST+ course in the field today. Very dynamic weather conditions with 60cm overnight, and approximately 40cm over the day. Wind, humidity and warmer temps at lower elevations all worked to form a solid 60cm deep slab sitting on previous surfaces. We experienced significant whumphing in all areas traveled today, from 1300-1450m, mostly west and northwest aspects. We also observed multiple recent natural avalanches to size 1.5. The bed surfaces of these avalanches were already being re-loaded by wind and new snow. We dug a test profile (snowpack depth here of 240cm) at 1450m on a northwest-facing ridgeline feature, and observed easy compression test results (sudden collapse) down 60cm in very preserved surface hoar to 25mm in size. Below this surface hoar was a layer of decomposing crusts and facets about 15cm in depth, with a solid snowpack beneath that to ground. This test result, combined with observations of natural avalanches and many significant whumphs over the day kept us out of any avalanche terrain. These conditions are very concerning given the persistent nature of surface hoar, and the depth at which it is buried. Much caution should be given to this interface, as it could be an issue for some time to come. You can't outsmart a deep persistent weak layer! Island Alpine Guides accesses this terrain under agreements with the land owners and operators.