It was a perfect day to do the Top Hat loop around Emerald Peak in Yoho Park.

It was -14 at the Hamilton Lake trailhead at 7:30am. Temperatures stayed cool all day, with clear skies and light SW breeze. There was only one other party seen during our tour. It was 0 degrees at Emerald Lake at 1:00pm. Very easy travel right to the Top Hat - Carnarvon col.

Very little recent avalanche activity noted, just a few loose snow avalanches to size 2 on solar aspects starting in steep, rocky solar facing terrain. Some solar triggered sluffs off rock cliffs as we descended into the Emerald Basin.

Solar aspects are wind pressed in the alpine, with sun crust below about 2000m.

Boot top powder for the upper half of the descent, with a few areas of minor wind affect. No skier triggered activity. The lower 1/3 of the run had a skiable temperature crust.

Jordy Shepherd
ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide
www.PeakAlpine.com