[MCR] Coast range, Spearhead Range

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

  a.. Toured today May 2nd from Blackcomb...Graduation day on an AST 2 course.  Mountain opens at 10:00 am.  Highest lift open was 7th Heaven.  Took The Stupid Traverse to the Blow Hole.                            
  b.. Skied East from Blackcomb/Spearhead Col on the Snow spine under the cliffs toward Circle Lake.  Also, N face of Mt.Pattison,  Also,  Off the top of Mt. Decker, NW Side Of Decker...Skiers left of the Finger Chutes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  c.. At 11:30 am at the top of the first line it was –8 degrees.  East aspect 2400 meters there was 10 cm of low density snow on very hard supportive crust.  (I could not break my ski pole handle through the crust)  Loose snow was moving fast and slough management was the concern.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  d.. At 12:30 PM Skied onto Trorey Glacier from Decker low shoulder.  East aspect was going moist...no snowballing or pin-wheeling, 10cm moist on hard base.                                                                            
  e.. At 2:00 pm it was –5 degrees on top of Pattison.  North face was mid winter like snow with 30 cm low density snow on an increasingly strong supportive crust.  No wind or temperature affect.                    
  f.. Decker, attempted to enter NW face/ Nth Hole Line...difficult to find line in flat light... Cornice appears to guard the line now.                                                                                                                              
  g.. Skied NW side of Decker, left of the finger chutes.  Entrance clean through cornice.  20 cm cold low density.  Some old debris on lower slopes.  Loose dry sloughs running far and fast.
Notes: Ski quality pretty darn good for May.  Climbing up on anything greater than 25 degrees...I would recommend ski crampons, as ski edges wash out on the crust below the powder.  Doable, but more work.  The sun did not make much of an appearance, but there was quite a greenhouse affect, turning many surfaces moist. Hazard: Mod/Mod/Mod, Caution Solar.

Chris Lawrence
ACMG Mountain Guide IFMGA
CAA Professional member
mobile: 604 892-4686
chrislawrence at shaw.ca
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