Regional Summaries

High temperatures continue to be the story, and their effects should inform every decision we make in the mountains of western Canada for the foreseeable future.

WEATHER
Heat, heat, heat. I can't remember the last time we had below freezing temperatures below 3500 m.

We’re in full summer mode now and if you’ve been wanted to get up into the alpine there’s no time like the present.

Glaciers:
Despite the amazingly warm weather the glaciers along the Sea-to-Sky have fared reasonably well. Sun cups have continued to develop but are not overly large, coverage on the glaciers is surprisingly good and crevasse bridges have been strong. This has all combined to offer good travel. Of course things change rapidly and I expect the continued heat will really start to take its toll as the days go by.

The heat dome may be leaving us soon, but its results will be with us for awhile.

WEATHER
It's been sunny and hot for the past week, with record-setting temperatures throughout the mountain ranges. For example, at Parker's Ridge at 2300 m there have been overnight lows of 20 degrees, and highs approaching 30. Banff and Jasper both broke all-time high temperature records on Monday, and then again on Tuesday (39C / 102 F at my house in Banff).

With some crazy hot weather in the forecast it looks like the summer is here in force.

Conditions:

There’s still lots of snow in the mountains here at the Coast. A few weeks behind where we typically are by this time of the year. That’s great in some areas where the snow allows for quick and easy passage over talus and scree and good coverage on glaciers. However, it also means that there’s still lots of movement in the alpine with lots of rock fall and loose wet avalanches during the heat of the day.