[MCR] Mt Assinboine, Rockies

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Hi,

Just back from a few soggy days in Mt Assiniboine Park. While the hiking
trails are largely snow free there is still plenty of snow on the higher
alpine peaks. A break in the clouds on Thursday evening allowed a quick
view to the summit of Mt Assiniboine itself. The standard north ridge
route is currently made up of much more snow than rock, which is not
surprising given the type of summer we have had so far.

Of particular note was a recent (1-2 day old) size 3 slab avalanche off
the northeast face of the mountain. The avalanche released on an ice
face above the glacier that lies on the bench below the north side of
the mountain (~3000m elevation). The fracture line extended below the
bergshrund a short distance into lower angled terrain. From my distant
vantage point it appeared as if the failure layer was within the recent
summer storm snow or possibly at a weak interface lingering in last
winter's snowpack. The bed surface was very white and not the ice face
itself. My suspicion is that spindrift from the rock face above
accumulated on the ice face and formed a slab then failed when it became
overloaded.

Heads up if you will be traveling on or below steep, high elevation snow
slopes - seems like winter still hasn't left the higher peaks yet.

Jeff Volp
BC Parks/ACMG




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