[MCR] Purcell Mountains/Spillimachean Valley

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

  We skied Caribou Ridge in the west end of the Spillimachean Valley today.
In the cut blocks the snowpack is very weak with only 110cm at 1800m.  There
is a very thick surface hoar layer down 60cm with 10-20mm crystals.  The
slab above this layer is stiff enough to allow for wide propagation(1F-4F).
The basal snowpack layers are also very weak and facetted.
  We experienced numerous very large whumphs on the surface hoar layer which
formed shooting cracks at least 50m+ distance in the 25 degree cutblock.
With an extended column test this slab above the surface hoar propagated
across the 90cm block with a sudden planar result (ECTP 28 SP).  Once we got
into the trees the snowpack seemed better consolidated but we skied
conservatively in open glades.  The alpine looks like it has had quite a bit
of wind in the last week.

Play safe!


Kirsten Knechtel
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
Golden, BC 
kirsten.knechtel at gmail.com



From:  Public Mountain Conditions Report <mcr at informalex.org>
Reply-To:  Public Mountain Conditions Report <mcr at informalex.org>
Date:  Wednesday, 1 January, 2014 5:31 PM
To:  Public Mountain Conditions Report <mcr at informalex.org>
Subject:  [MCR] accident patterns

We are seeing a bit of a trend in the last 10 days or so with accidents in
the Golden area. I¹m a little worried that this is the start of something
bigger and more widespread as the holidays end and people are looking for
that last big ride before heading back to work or school.
 
There¹s a couple of new blog posts from the last few days here:
 
http://blogs.avalanche.ca/category/forecaster-blog/
 
And Check out these accident reports from the last couple of days:
 
Dec 29th incident: 
http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/library/incident-report-database/view/92a45229-a
527-4355-a17d-1fc8f02d7eb5
<http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/library/incident-report-database/view/92a45229-
a527-4355-a17d-1fc8f02d7eb5>
Yesterday's incident:
http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/library/incident-report-database/view/a42b5c49-d
e79-43bc-b6b5-b7a45531dc5b
<http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/library/incident-report-database/view/a42b5c49-
de79-43bc-b6b5-b7a45531dc5b>
 
Stay safe.
 
Karl Klassen, Canadian Avalanche Centre
kklassen at avalanche.ca <mailto:kklassen at avalanche.ca>
 
_______________________________________________ These observations and
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