[MCR] Beaver & Grand Glacier, Glacier National Park

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

>Chad Rigby , Carla Demyen & I completed a fun 4 day traverse in Glacier

>Park April 29-May 2nd.  We skied from Silent Pass up the Beaver Glacier

>and out the Grand Glacier, returning to Silent pass.  The conditions are

>now into full spring.  The first 3 days had good overnight freezes but it

>warmed up rapidly during the day with the top 10-15cm becoming isothermal

>(slush) on sun effected aspects by 11:00am to at least 10,000ft.

>Numerous loose wet point releases to size 2.5 were observed, with some

>avalanches going to ground in steep shallow snowpack areas.

>  May 1st we skied out the Grand Glacier, which has a challenging exit

>and 

>we stayed to the skiers right side to avoid the isothermal solar slopes

>and overhead icefall hazard on skiers left.  To avoid the steep heavily

>crevassed toe of the glacier we were forced to traverse a short 45 plus

>degree snow slope on the edge of the glacier.  This was probably the

>warmest day of the winter so far

>and by 1:30 it was  +12 degrees at 5500ft with intense solar radiation.

>Numerous size 2.5-3 wet snow avalanches were observed including several

>natural icefall and cornice triggered deep slab releases.   Despite this,

>valley bottom travel was still supportive and easy.

> Our last night out it rained to the top of the peaks.  We skied out to

>Silent Pass the next morning which was overcast and still reasonable

>travel despite the top 5-10cm being wet snow.  With no overnight freeze,

>the previous days hot temperatures and overnight rain we suspect that a

>large avalanche cycle will occur especially with any solar radiation.

>

>Kirsten

>

>Kirsten Knechtel

>ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

>www.kirstenknechtel.com--

>

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>On 14-05-02 8:39 PM, "Public Mountain Conditions Report"

><mcr at informalex.org> wrote:

>

>>With partner Kendra Stritch I enjoyed a 4 day recreational tour of the

>>Lyells 29 Apr - 2 May.

>>

>>A good overnight freeze 28 Apr made for great travel up the Glacier

>>River 

>>valley. Skiing at valley bottom was mainly supportive.

>>

>>Snow coverage on the Lyell Icefield was consistently greater then 250cm.

>>Wind effect was prevalent and we observed solar effect on S aspects to

>>3200m on 1 May. We observed numerous cornice failures on E aspects

>>resulting in avalanches to sz 2. Ski crampons were helpful on scoured W

>>aspects and without, ascents of Mt Lyell and Mt Rudolph would be

>>difficult.

>>

>>Below 2500m spring conditions prevailed on our egress. There were

>>numerous point releases to sz 2 on S aspects, and mud and rock slides on

>>lateral moraines.

>>

>>Travel at valley bottom deteriorated significantly this week. Almost no

>>ice/snow bridges remain over the braided river. It was still possible to

>>ski across Glacier Lake.

>>

>>Recent grizzly bear tracks were observed throughout the valley.

>>

>>Brent Peters

>>Alpine Guide

>>yamnuska.com

>>

>>

>>Sent from my iPhone

>>_______________________________________________

>>These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted

>>them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors,

>>omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time

>>and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain.

>>Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased

>>safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in

>>planning trips or making decisions in the field.

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