ACMG Mountain Conditions Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued June 10th, 2016

From all reports it is currently a grey damp world in the Rockies and Columbia mountains. Information is limited but it seems that above treeline in the Rockies somewhere between 5 and 15 cms of snow have fallen. Limited reports from the Columbia Mountains show rain at Treeline and probably higher.

The new snow and wind may have built windslabs in alpine areas. In the Columbia Mountains and the Rockies any rain should be assumed to have weakened crevasse bridges, cornices and shallow snowpack areas.

As you could see from the excellent photos at http://www.mountainconditions.com/reports/rogers-pass-conditions-0, it is still wintry in some places in the Columbia's alpine and not others. Lots of steep south and west facing rock was dry before the rain while North and some East facing rock may still have snow or at least cornices. From the air last weekend, Bugaboos routes like the Becky Chouinard on the South Howser, Minaret, Snowpatch South and West Face looked dry but I would assume there are still cornices on the summit ridges. There was still snow below the Kain Hut. Valhallas looked like dry rock and drier ground but still some snow on the North facing slopes at least.

The East slope of the Rockies is very snow free but along the Rockies Divide lots of winter snow remains in the alpine for this new snow to stick to.

Conditions are still way ahead of "normal" for this time of year. If you get a good break in the weather and choose an objective wisely, there is potential for some good adventures to be had this weekend. If you get no breaks and choose poorly, well, there must be a life lesson in there somewhere:)

Larry Stanier
ACMG Mountain Guide