[MCR] Monashees

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

We ski toured in the Monashees just north and south of Revelstoke the past five days. We were on north and east aspects above the Perry River, Craigellachie Creek and the Columbia River, at skiing elevations of 800-2000 m. 

In general there is about 75 cm of recent storm snow on top of surface hoar, which was on top of a few cm of facets, which was on top of surface hoar (which was on top of a thin sun crust on solar aspects) and this all was on top of a thicker layer of even weaker facetted snow. 

We had lots of whumpfing and some cracking while skiing. Our compression tests showed variable results though with some easy failures and some tests with no failure at all. 

Regardless, we didn't trust this instability at all and stayed on small slopes below treeline, mostly around 30 degrees or less (I was measuring them sometimes with my inclinometer!), and with no overhead hazard. 

We still had plenty of fun powder turns though, the skiing is great right now!

Mark Klassen
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide