[MCR] Selkirks, Sorcerer Lodge

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

 From Jan 29-Feb 5 we skied at Sorcerer Lodge in the Selkirks, just  
northeast of Glacier Park.

Our primary concern all week was a weak layer of decomposing and  
fragmented particles that are facetting, and which is now buried down  
about 40-60 cm. This layer was found most places but was only an  
issue in alpine and exposed treeline areas where a harder layer of  
wind slab sat on top of it. These windslabs are now buried by about  
30-40 cm of soft snow.

At the end of the week another windslab was formed on the surface  
when we got about 20cm of snow combined with moderate to strong  
southwest winds. These new windslabs will be found on lee and  
crossloaded slopes at treeline and in the alpine.

There were some large cornices in the alpine and we limited our  
exposure to them.

We didn't see signs of deeper instabilities even though there is  
surface hoar down about 150 cm and facets at the bottom of the  
snowpack. That said, we still treated large, steep and smooth alpine  
slopes with caution.

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide
photos at www.facebook.com/alpinism


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