[MCR] Rogers Pass Dec 7th and 8th

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Dec 8th 2012



Over the past two days we have skied in the Connaught drainage of the
Rogers Pass with two groups of freeriders and Pro skiers Chris Rubens and
Greg Hill.



The weather over the past two days had a cooling trend (-5 to -15) with
overcast skies on the 7th and clearing today. Intermittent flurries brought
up to 15cm low-density new snow over top of 60cms from the last week.



Of note was the lack of wind effect associated with the precip and no wind
effect seen at ridge top and tree line. Only sluffing from steep terrain
was observed for avalanche activity, and a small size one off of video peak
that failed in the top 30cms of snow. Our primary concern was the buried
wind slab from earlier in the week that we had trouble finding in most
areas. The Nov. 28 surface hoar layer now down 70 to 100cm in the snowpack
was also hard to locate with moderate “resistant planar” shears in our test
profiles. The Nov 6th rain crust was identified down 130 to 180cms
depending on the feature. Very hard compression test results showed “sudden
collapse” (drop) on the rain crust. We steered clear of wide open planar
slopes at tree line and in the alpine with respect to the rain crust.



Overall our confidence grew throughout the days and we skied terrain at and
below tree line up to 45 degrees in small micro convoluted terrain. Still
of note is the rapid taper of snow coverage below 1400m. Open creeks and
barely covered alders and small trees were hazards to watch out for.



Conditions are about to deteriorate as a warm, wet and windy low front
approaches over the next 24hrs.



Ski safe



Richard Paradis SG

Marty Schaffer SG

Kevin Hjertaas ASG

Brodie Smith ASG
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