[MCR] Spearhead Range

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

I spent the day sking in the Spearhead. Clearing weather through the morning
let us get into the Blackcomb backcountry. Don't Swill looked very rocky and
the regular entrance is now a 20m long slot, deep and barely wide enough for
a snowboard. The crevasses below look extremely open. Not very appealing.  

The guides notch seemed a good alternative. We may have been the first up it
this year trenching through the waist deep facets and crusts. At the top of
the Spearhead glacier, near ridge top there is 1.5 - 2.5m snow over glacier
ice. Many crevasses still open everywhere.  Our  goal was to ski the
northern (skiers L) Cham Cute. It was in perfect shape, probably the only
"normal" feeling portion of this  tour. The apron below the gully was so
facetted I broke through to the rocks while turning in a thin locations. I
could easily push my ski pole to ground in a couple of locations; measuring
a 1m average pack.. 

We took the run right down to Decker Lake. Near the bottom, about 150m above
Decker Lake, I cut around a steeper corner aggressively and the slope
whumphed  and started cracking but was too supported  to fracture out. 

The Decker Glaciers mid point at 2050m had 1.2m of snow. Lots of slots
everywhere. 

The ski routei south through Decker Creek and meadows was probably a
mistake. The 60-80 cm deep pack collapsed under my skis a few times as we
traveled through very visible boulders. Going up and over Disease Ridge (too
gain Body Bag Bowl) probably would have been a better option.

 

The average snow coverage looks like what we normally have mid - late
November.  Most of the snow is in some stage of faceting. It seems like the
warm temps and new snow during the past week is settling and also making the
top layers denser. This may be creating a slightly more cohesive slab over
the deeper looser snow and basal facets. A persistent weak layer that is not
really avalanching yet.  Almost reminds me of late February/early March snow
during a dry winter on the eastern side of the Rockies. It is getting spooky
to ski in steeper terrain on all high aspects, and the pack is not really
deep enough below 1800m.  I'm sure we will get an avalanche cycle during the
next bigger storm, and many of the slopes that don't go will be suspect for
a while after.     

 

Dave Sarkany

DSK Guiding

 

acmg_ski_SKGABC scanned logo- july 2011

 

ACMG Ski Guide - Association of Canadian Mountain Guides

CAA Professional Member - Canadian Avalanche Association

SKGABC -Level 3 Sea Kayak Guide - Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC

 

604.938.4056

dsarkany at telus.net

www.dskguiding.com

 

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