[MCR] Hector Lake Area, Rockies

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Spent the day skiing around treeline in the Hector Lake area.  Steady snow 
throughout the day brought the recent storm snow up to 35-40cm which made for 
excellent ski quality throughout the day but deteriorating avalanche conditions. 


We had one skier remote size 1.5 avalanche on a thin and variable sun crust down 
35-40cm on a steep southerly aspect from about 20m away at 2300m, and cracking 
and soft slabs failing on steeper rolls on Southerly aspects.  On the N aspects 
there was some power sluffing in steeper terrain but no slab failures that we 
noticed.  Some light wind effect at treeline to watch for as well.

Throughout the course of the day we also observed and heard several large 
cornice failures coming out of steep unskiable NE facing terrain in the alpine 
and saw one natural size 2 slab fail on an East aspect at treeline, also in very 
steep unsupported terrain.  I suspect the wind was moving the snow around up 
high fairly well.

We stuck to moderate angled, well supported terrain with little overhead hazard 
and had a fun day of skiing!
Cheers, Conrad Janzen
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
www.banffmountainguides.com 
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