[MCR] Glaciers in Glacier National Park

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Hello Everyone,

This past week I assisted the PC Glacier Monitoring team on the
Illecillewaet Glacier.  We commenced our day at 2700 meters and walked the
down to the toe of the ice to conduct the tasks of our study. We observed
4cm of new snow since the precipitation earlier in the week (16th-19th of
September) with a firm 2 cm crust above 2600 meters. As of last evening,
there has been 12mm of precipitation at the Roger's Pass with freezing
levels likely at 2500 meters today.

Overall, the precipitation amounts accumulated as snow were minimal on
Friday and the glacier was still quite dry and notably broken as we walked
from monitor point to point on our descent.  Travel wasn't complex, but did
require some probing and attention. The crevasses between 2400 and 2600
meters were as big and open as I have seen them and some time was spent
moving our rope team around the hazards in spite of still fairly dry
conditions on the glacier due to the loss of seasonal and firn snow this
summer.

The primary culprit for these conditions was a record breaking dry July.

With this in mind, for those climbers planning trips into this fall and
also for skiers in the early portion of the winter planning to travel
through glaciated terrain in the West Columbia's and surrounding areas, it
may be worthwhile to consider this summer's weather impact on glaciated
areas of the park. I suspect in many places there are some considerable
changes to the hazard potential with respect to bridging over crevasses;
particularly in shoulder season and beyond into early winter snow pack
conditions.

The photos below maybe helpful with future trip planning in glaciated areas
of Glacier National Park going forward.


Paddy Jerome
Visitor Safety Technician
ACMG/IFMGA
Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
Ph. 250 814 3524
patrick.jerome at pc.gc.ca
www.parksmountainsafety.ca
www.parcsecuritemontagne.ca
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