Ski conditions in the Central Kootenays are consistent with the rest of the province…thin. There are some good turns to be had in the right places.
In sheltered areas, surface hoar to 8mm was observed to 2150m. Generally, 10-15cm of recent storm snow overlies a variety of surfaces, from facets and surface hoar in sheltered area to wind effect in exposed areas, to a breakable crust on solar aspects. The recent storm snow had been redistributed by light southwesterly flow, however during the day the wind was light out of the NE.
One hasty profile revealed 20cm of fist snow over 10cm 4 finger snow with 20cm of fist facets below.
Regular pole probing revealed 10-15cm of fist HST on top of stiffer wind effect with lower resistance facets below.
Good turns, albeit carefully executed, were found between 2500m and 2000m on smooth features. Below 2000m anything off a road was relatively unskiable.