Hi all,
Today we skied at Parkers Ridge near the Columbia Icefields. There were quite a few folks out there enjoying the good snow conditions. We ventured on North facing supported Alpine and Treeline terrain to 36 degrees incline between 2500m and 2000m. We had obscured conditions in the AM and Overcast in the PM with a few welcomed blue cracks later in the afternoon. Temperatures ranged from -4.0 to near zero and freezing levels remained below surface. Snow was on the menu today, the area received up to 10cm of low density snow over the course of the day. Winds were also on the menu, we observed Moderate winds and wind transport from the West in the alpine most of the day.
Despite the ongoing winds and blowing snow the ski conditions were actually quite good on leeward protected terrain. Travel uphill was reasonable with a 20cm ski penetration. The height of snow at treeline was around 120cm. There was much variability in snowpack thickness in the Alpine but the it felt firm and supportive in deeper lee areas. We did not see any signs of instability or any new avalanches. The only test result that we observed was a moderate to hard resistant shear down 40cm. Our main concern was the ongoing wind loading forming wind slabs in steep north facing lee slopes below ridge top.
Parkers Ridge is always a bit of a drive away however; it is a great North facing road side options when conditions are warmer elsewhere.
Cheers,
David Lussier
acmg mountain guide
