[MCR] Coast mtn conditions

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Allo, Happy Canada Day weekend!

Its been crazy cold weather this week.  The Central Coast is expecting  a cold airmass from the N Pacific region to infiltrate the region lowering the temperatures even more, with coastal valley temperature forecast to drop to 4 degrees this weekend!  Perhaps the S coast will escape this surge of cold air.   However the conditions in all the coastal mountains are abnormal for this time of year.  Lots of snow remains in Alpine areas.  Despite a clearing trend this weekend, I can't see any real change in the near future.

The South Coast, Vancouver Island,  and Cascades regions are reporting decent travel conditions treeline and above. There are still lots of hanging  cornices, glide cracks,  and  snow remaining on ledges.   Most alpine lakes are still frozen.  Mt Washington on Vancouver Island has 3.5m of snow at treeline.

When the sun does appear it packs a lot of energy, expect wet sloughs to run off solar aspects as the snow-patches warm up

Paul Berntsen
Mountain Guide