[MCR] Rogers Pass conditions March 20-23. Glacier Crest, Bonney, Ross Pk, Lily traverse.

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

From March 20th – 23rd we received
a bit of snow which did refresh skied terrain. Not 
much wind associated with these intermittent snow showers. We skied mainly
North and West aspects. Great snow above 1700M. South and East aspects had sun
crust treeline & below. Below 1500M warming snow is getting heavier,
verging on upside down in places. Snowpack generally feels stable apart from solar or
wind exposed/loaded features. 

 

The snowpack is settling fast with warming temps, in places
it could be forming a settlement slab. Glide cracks opening up on slabby
terrain. 

 

March 20th – Abbott trees & Glacier Crest. 
Abbott -  Only one slope facing more NE was good, everything else had sun
crust.  Glacier Crest – Excellent
conditions but getting wind affected near ridge top.

 

March 21st – Bonney Morraines-  trackless this day!  Snowpack felt very positive. We put a high up-track above the end of the first Ross peak avalanche runout. This big scary avalanche path  has not yet run, it gets early morning sun, same aspect and features
(large start zone, cornices, shallow spots) as the Abbott path that slid to
size 3 and took out the up-track earlier this week. Bonney area received heavy
skier traffic March 22nd and 23.

 

March 22nd- Ross Peak – Very good snow Alpine to
treeline and below treeline where sun sheltered. On a steep planar slope ski
cutting produced two size 1 soft slab avalanches fracturing 20cm’s down in
storm snow. Sun had just hit this. Moist and heavier snow below 1500M. 

 

March 23rd – Lily traverse starting from Asulkan
drainage. Excellent conditions throughout. Intense radiation by 1pm in the high
alpine. Snow was moist from treeline  on
most solar aspects. Stiff breeze at Saphire col otherwise windless.  







Eric Dumerac- Professional Mountain Guide 
✆ 403-609-1564  
Mountain Skills Academy  


 		 	   		  
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