[MCR] Mt.Field-Rockies-March 17

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Ventured to the lower treed slopes of Mt. Field today.
 
-6 nil precip in the AM and -3 S-1 in the PM overcast all day.
 
Went up the most climbers left hand side of the main slide path, in thick forest.  
There is a great deal of 30-50 year old timber that has been broken or pushed over down to 1500m.  And a number of crown lines up to 1m deep and debris piles strew about.
 
The main bowl under the summit has an impressive crown, suspecting a large cornice fall was the trigger for this slide.  
 
The snowpack was 250-300cm from 1900-2200m. 
 
Profile @ 2000m
The Feb surface hoar layer is about 130cm down at this elevation and still very preserved, test results in the Moderate range collapsing suddenly.  
The mid to upper snowpack is consistent with plenty of pencil stiff snow above and below the Surface Hoar layer.  
Storm instabilities where found about 50cm down resistant to shearing, the surface is fluffy.
 
We gave overhead exposure a great deal of respect today, as there are some large cornices plumped up on the Field/Wapta ridge.  
There was no obvious evidence the high lookers left slopes have slide in the cycle.
 
Sunshine and daytime warming is a good time to give overhead exposure to cornices and the slopes they land on some thought.
 
Merrie-Beth Board
ACMG Ski and Assistant Alpine Guide 		 	   		  
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