[MCR] Dome Glacier Avalanche - Rogers Pass - Glacier National Park

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Regarding the previous posts of  large avalanches observed in the Asulkan
Valley. Yesterday, the Parks Canada avalanche control team at Rogers Pass
went to investigate the Dome Glacier avalanche that occurred on Nov 20th. It
was classified as a size 3.5 that ran 700m right down to tree line. It was
200m wide, with a maximum depth of 2m and an average depth of 1.1m. 

Most importantly is that it failed on the November 12 surface hoar layer
size 4-8mm. It is a 1 cm thick layer in that location and can be seen in the
attached photo. It's sitting on a 12cm  facet layer, the top of which was
the bed surface for this avalanche. 

The surface hoar layer was 100cm where we dug and is 70cm above the glacial
ice. This confirms that there is a persistent weak layer in the alpine in
this region.   

Also interesting was the presence of a 3cm hard crust below the facets. 

The height of the snowpack on and around the glacier was variable between
1.5m to 2.8m with many crevasses still visible. 

There is new surface hoar growing at this time into the alpine waiting to be
buried. 


Avalanche Control and Visitor Safety Team
Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks
Parks Canada                                                

                                                

via

Peter Tucker
Executive Director
B: +1.403.949.3587
M: +1.403.689.4324
ed at acmg.ca  |  www.acmg.ca


 

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