[MCR] Rockies: Wapta Conditions (Bow, Peyto, Balfour Hut area)

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Matt Reynolds and I just got back from five days on the Wapta with the
SARTECH QL5A WInter Mountain Ops course.

Synopsis: Generally unsettled weather with light snow each day and light to
moderate W wind every day with some strong gusts. Temperatures often in the
minus 10 range with wind chills to minus 20. Occasional Wapta style
whiteouts. Several cornice collapses and isolated slab and loose avalanches
noted primarily on E aspects. Fair to good travel and ski conditions.
Typical snowpack depth 200 to 250cm with some thinner areas. A number of
areas of open crevasses noted and we roped up for all flat and uphill travel
and even some downhill travel in poor visibility. Maintained a high level of
suspicion regarding crevasses and avalanches. Snowpack felt more like late
January than early MarchŠ More detailed day to day discussion below.

February 27 - Bow Lake to Bow Hut: Lake now refrozen. (There were recent
reports of a person falling into Bow Lake on way to Crowfoot Glades and
another report of boot top water during the previous warm spell).  Travel in
Canyon OK. At 11:30 witnessed a cornice collapse off the Onion that resulted
in enough mass to classify as a size 2 avalanche. No  propagation on slopes
below. Some cracking on flatter slopes approaching final slope below hut.
Crowns from several size 2 avalanches a week or so ago above Bow Canyon
still visible.

February 28 - Bow Hut to Peyto Hut: Moderate to Strong W winds overnight and
light snowfall (up to 5cm). Height of snow (HS) around 300 centimeters plus
on the way to the Onion. From the Onion to Peyto hut the HS is just over
200cm. Surface snow very wind affected making for fast travel but poor
skiing (breakable crust) below Mt. Thompson down to hut.

February 29 - Peyto Hut to Balfour / Ascent of Vulture Peak: Another 3 - 5cm
of new snow overnight with continued light to moderate W winds. Encountered
two large open crevasses while traveling between Thompson and Rhondda in a
whiteout. Happy to be on a rope. Good travel conditions with ski penetration
varying from 10 to 20 cm. Despite recent winds, good to excellent ski
quality from Olive/St. Nic col and below. A number of open crevasses below
Olive / St. Ni Col. (See photo on new mountain conditions website) Fair ski
quality up high on Vulture with good to excellent ski quality lower down on
hero snow. Vulture Glacier has an average of 200 to 250cm of snow, less than
expected!

March 1 - Balfour Hut to Bow Hut / Ascent of Onion: Another 3 - 5cm
overnight with the usual light to moderate W winds. Thin windslabs forming
in the alpine near ridge tops and similar features. More tedious trail
breaking than yesterday with ski penetration upwards of 20cm. Occasional
bouts of whiteout. New cornice collapse since yesterday fell over rocky
slope on E side of Olive and produced size 2 avalanche that stopped in the
top of the runout. When passing north of St. Nicholas on way back to Bow we
skied near several open crevasses. (See photo on new mountain conditions
website.) Probing extensively near here a week ago showed the snowpack is as
thin as 100 cm near the crevasses. Many other open crevasses noted on the
way from the Onion to Mt. Gordon on a recent trip. Kept the rope on until
well below this area on the way down. Excellent ski quality on glacier to
the Onion. Also excellent ski quality down to hut.

March 2 - Bow Hut to Bow Lake: another 5cm of new snow overnight with winds
picking up in the morning again. Noted many size 1 loose sluffs in steep
terrain and one size 2 loose starting above the headwall. Despite some
overnight winds the first steep slope below the hut had not yet slabbed up.
Some cracking and dropping down into facets and depth hoar on the flats
above the canyon. Another cornice release off the East side of the Onion
overnight triggered a healthy Size 2 slab 50 - 70cm deep that ran down to
near the trees. Observed another new size 2 slab in the storm snow on a
steep slope above the Canyon (not threatening the route) right near where
several slabs released a week or two ago.) Still lots of open water in the
Canyon with one creek crossing now getting a bit sketchy. Another older E
facing Size 2 slab noted near alluvial fan that wasn't there four days ago
(high above the flats below a cliff in rocky terrain).

Matt Reynolds MG
Cyril Shokoples MG
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