McGregor
Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 28th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 27th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 26th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs, Loose Wet.
Published: Mar 25th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 24th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs, Loose Wet.
Published: Mar 23rd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 22nd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 21st, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 20th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 19th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 18th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 17th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 16th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs.
Published: Mar 15th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs.
Published: Mar 14th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs.
Published: Mar 13th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs.
Published: Mar 12th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 11th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 10th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 9th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 8th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 7th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Storm Slabs.
Published: Mar 7th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs.
Published: Mar 6th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 5th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 4th, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 3rd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 2nd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 2nd, 2025Avalanche Forecast
Problems: Persistent Slabs.
Published: Mar 1st, 2025Mt. Baldy NE bowl
Matt Stelmaschuk,
Saturday 22nd April, 2023 2:00PM
Torpy’s Ten Cents
<p>10cm of fresh snow over a supportive crust made for easy movement around the Torpy today. While it didn’t make for powder riding we hit up all the bowls for some observations and play. New snow seems to be bonding to the crusts left by previous solar warming and only shaded alpine slopes remain unaffected. That said, the snowpack is dry ag upper elevation and todays clouds and light snow sure fekt like winter. Below 1500m (mid burn) is a different story. The snowpack at low elevations has been taking a beating from daily freezing levels and snow along the road is melting away. This left for hot sleds and questions about how long until we’re riding in mud. </p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Thursday 13th April, 2023 4:40PM
Second Bowl Sun
<p>We went to the Torpy today to have fun in the sun. We played on sunny slopes in the morning but moved to shady rolls at higher elevations once the heat of the sun started to pick up. Timing is important in the spring heat. We were careful to pick terrain where the slope size and runout meant we could have fun while reducing the consequences of triggering a windslab. We triggered only one small cookie between tracks and saw one larger natural avalanche in the distance out of steep alpine terrain. On our way out, we noticed that the burn was becoming moist in the afternoon sun and tomorrow it will likely have a crust at lower elevations. </p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Thursday 16th March, 2023 6:20PM
Farm
<p>Observed wind affected slopes and multiple crowns in steep alpine terrain which made the group make conservative terrain choices. A couple of small pockets of windslab popped off but no propagation occurred. </p>
jaredbreitkreuz,
Sunday 26th February, 2023 7:10AM
Deep Blue
<p>Sunshine and blue skies had us keen to get out. We went riding at Torpy and found some awesome deep powder out of the wind, in open trees. Exposed areas had windslabs that cracked under our sleds. On the way we could see plumes of snow blowing off ridge crests and signs of wind at all elevations.
</p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Wednesday 22nd February, 2023 5:50PM
Red mountain
<p>285cm total snow depth 5225 ft 17 degree aspect
Recent storm depth failed at 45 cm after two elbow taps.
Facet layer at 1m no reaction after hard blows
Skied trees only by cabin. No sketchyness observed
Broke trail 7.5 hrs to cabin. Hero’s in our own minds</p>
graftonw,
Sunday 5th February, 2023 9:50PM
Torpy burn
<p>70cm of snow on top of a crust layer, dug a pit at 1300m and had fracture at CTE 9, rode mellow slows in deep powder </p>
Max young,
Saturday 4th February, 2023 8:50PM
Force Fed Faceshots
<p>
Torpy delivers with 60 cm of blower! We were careful to stay in sheltered locations where the wind hasn't formed a cohesive slab yet. Despite our caution we managed to trigger a small storm slab on a steep terrain feature. Choosing small terrain to ride on, and only exposing 1 rider at a time is how we managed the hazard today.
</p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Wednesday 1st February, 2023 3:40PM
Torpy
<p>Sunny but cold day on Torpy. Mostly dust on crust down low (1100-1600m) gradually transforming to a wind affected powder/scoured ice up higher (1600-1800m). Best skiing right around 1500-1700m</p>
bambam,
Sunday 29th January, 2023 4:40PM
Careful terrain selection
Craig Evanoff,
Tuesday 24th January, 2023 7:15PM
Busy Torpy day
<p>Great day out at the Torpy Burn, along with everyone else! Recent storm snow was unconsolidated for the first couple hundred meters vertical above the road, then had more slab characteristics with some wind effect higher up.
Pit at 1560 m on S aspect in open trees had 140 cm snow depth, easy results in the upper 10 cm, moderate results (ctm14) down 30 cm on a ~1-2 cm rain crust. We had small failures in the storm slab under our skis on short steep sections with minimal propagation.
Lots of fun to be had while staying off slopes with higher consequence.
</p>
esarhawkins,
Sunday 22nd January, 2023 8:40PM
Upper Torpy
<p>Pit dug at 1750 meters on a south aspect. 0-25 cms was fist soft and sloughed away loosely along a 25cm layer in 8 taps, 25-35 cms was 4 finger firm with a failure at 14 taps along a 35 cm deep thin crust. Another failure at 29 taps at a thin crust 60 cms deep. Snowpack was very wind blown and 180 cms deep here. While I was digging the pit a large crack developed on both sides of the pit extending 6 to 8 feet outward. There was no sign of the previous sugary layer in the 1 meter pit. Snow quality was insanely fun to ski but visibility was zero any higher. </p>
jody,
Sunday 22nd January, 2023 8:00PM
Checking out shallower ridge crest snowpacks
Craig Evanoff,
Thursday 19th January, 2023 4:15PM
Racing Trains
<p>We found some fun skiing up high and crust down low at the Torpy today. At the beginning of January when the persistent slab first formed our strategy was to stay in low consequence terrain - a good choice when lacking info. Now, with a few weeks of observations, we are slowly gaining confidence how to avoid this problem. While the persistent weak layer is everywhere, a rider is most likely to trigger it where snow transitions from thin to thick. For us that means staying cautious near ridge crests, alpine slopes and anywhere we suspect the snowpack height to be variable.</p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Wednesday 11th January, 2023 6:50PM
Fast skiing on Thin Freezing Rain Crust
Craig Evanoff,
Monday 2nd January, 2023 5:15PM
Flying Crustaceans
<p>Been up at the Red Mtn cabin for the past two days. Yesterday (Saturday) we skied mellow open slopes and treed slopes. We poked around more throughout today (Sunday). Woke up this morning to ~1 cm ice/rime crust on all aspects and elevations between at least 1400 m to at least 1800 m. Had reactive moderate results on a north face down 30 cms overlying very weak facets. We stuck to skiing south facing slopes primarily in open and dense trees on slopes below 25 degrees. We had a couple lines in moderately dense trees on up to 40 degree slopes with no failures.
The snowpack certainly looks solid at first glance, but this persistent slab makes avoiding large, convex slopes the way to go.</p>
esarhawkins,
Sunday 1st January, 2023 8:20PM
Burning to ski
<p>Today we found some fun ski turns at the Torpy Burn. With the SPAW out for most of interior BC including our North Rockies region we decided before heading out that we would stick to small features with low consequence. On slope we practiced good travel strategies by spacing out on the hike up and using terrain to avoid steeper pitches. The layer of concern was too deep to feel with our skis so we dug a couple test pits to assess it.</p>
northrockiesfieldteam,
Thursday 29th December, 2022 6:10PM
Torpy Rain Ride
<p>Was 2 degrees at the truck and raining when we unloaded. The rain turned to freezing rain when we got up the burn but then quickly turned to snow. It cleared off around noon and then the wind picked up on our way out. </p>
meghan_bosecker,
Monday 26th December, 2022 8:10PM
Deep in the trees
Craig Evanoff,
Saturday 24th December, 2022 7:00PM
AST1. Cold enough to freeze the balls off….
Craig Evanoff,
Monday 19th December, 2022 12:00PM
Fastets, (fast skiing on facets)
Craig Evanoff,
Friday 16th December, 2022 4:30PM
Facets and fog
Craig Evanoff,
Wednesday 14th December, 2022 7:15PM
Facets and fog
Craig Evanoff,
Wednesday 14th December, 2022 7:15PM
Torpy SW Face
<p>Great day of skiing. Only complaint was the views weren't as good with all the clouds.</p>
pl.ab.ca,
Sunday 11th December, 2022 6:30PM
Dezaiko Range
<p>AST2 course Dec 6-10 at Dezaiko Lodge. Evidence of previous avalanche cycle when we flew in to the lodge Dec 6th, but no new avalanches observed Dec 6-10. Snowpack is 140cm at treeline tapering to 1m below 1350m. Ski quality deteriorates below 1350m with poor coverage over early season hazards. Coverage in alpine looks variable with areas of thin snowpack and visible wind effect. Buried windslab found at treeline in isolated areas producing resistent planar shears. Persistent facet crust combo found 70-90cm down but no results on testing. Good ski quality in sheltered areas and below treeline. (limited observations in alpine)</p>
mattmountainguiding,
Saturday 10th December, 2022 9:30PM
Cold and wind hammered
Craig Evanoff,
Monday 5th December, 2022 11:15AM
Red Mountain cabin
Matt Stelmaschuk,
Monday 28th November, 2022 9:30PM
Almost Im-passable
<p>Braved the Pass FSR today to go skiing up the Farm area. Storm in past couple days dropped about 40-50cm on the road. Skin up was slow going, fairly thin snowpack down below ~1200m made for decent amount of route finding. Dug a pit at 1400m, storm snow ~50cm on top of a crust that was not too reactive in tests. Soft wind slab in spots in open trees around 1400m. Ride down was deep and snow was fairly slow, survival skiing dropping below 1200m. </p>
jpspatterson,
Monday 28th November, 2022 9:30AM
Pretty good now above 1500m
Craig Evanoff,
Thursday 24th November, 2022 10:00AM
Upper Torpy
<p>30cm-70cm total snow, which decreases markedly below 1500m. Variable snow surfaces at treeline and above with the best riding in the trees.
Surface hoar growth was observed below treeline but seemed to be confined to an elevation band between 1200m-1500m on northerly aspects. A 1cm layer of facets on the surface is widespread. Snowpack lacks strength and trail-breaking was difficult.
Snow started falling around noon at 1cm/hr or less with light wind gusts from the SE. </p>
Matt Stelmaschuk,
Monday 21st November, 2022 9:30AM