[MCR] Kootenay Pass, Southern Selkirk Mountains

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Just back from trip to Kootenay Pass.  Here are a few observations from 
the day.

The storm from earlier in the week changed things a bit.  The coverage 
is better, though still nowhere at the mid-winter levels. Be careful on 
wind-swept rides and lower elevations, the rock are still there.  As 
well, at lower elevations there is now a crust on or near the surface.  
Depending on the elevation and aspect, it could make for some pleasant 
or unpleasant skiing.

A weak inversion had formed and the air temperature was hovering around 
zero above 1700m elevation.  It felt strangely spring-like on the 
ridges.  It was about -3C lower down at the highway.  There was little 
or no wind during our tour.

There was widespread surface hoar development at all elevations and on 
all aspects.  It was up to 12mm in sheltered, moist areas and almost 
nonexistent on warm solar aspects.  I hope this doesn't become our first 
persistent weak layer of the season.

We had a great run off of Wolf Ridge down the main avalanche path to the 
power line.  This is a solar aspect and the snow was moist at about 
1900m elevation, then dried out as we skied lower into the inversion.  
At about 1700m elevation the crust became apparent.  It was supportive 
so the skiing was good as we swished through the surface hoar.

Our last run of the day was off the Camel's Hump down to the power line 
on a north aspect.  The snow was of good quality until we hit the crust 
at about 1700m elevation.  The crust here was not supportive and made 
the skiing challenging.

It was great day for a tour in the sunshine.

Craig Hollinger,
ACMG Assistant Ski Guide.