ACMG Training and Assessment program Apprentice Ski Guide Exam April 2-8 2019

Terrain Skiied - Groups skiied as far north as the Peyto and as far south as the Chickadee Valley from 3300m - 1600m on all aspects on classic Rockies ski objectives.

Ski Conditions - Good ski conditions observed on high north aspects to 2000 m with up to 30 cms of storm snow from last weeks weather. Below 2000 m a supportive melt freeze crust exists and was supportive to skiers until midday. Crusts forming on steep solar aspects, all elevations, from recent clear weather. Good hunting on polar aspects outside of due north still found reasonable snow conditions. Old tracks still felt while skiing but not visible. The snowpack in general is quite facetted even by Rockies standards. Coverage on the glaciers was quite variable with amounts anywhere from 140 cms up to 3+ meters. Definitely worth probing around a bit if you are planning on skiing up there.

Avalanche Hazard - Isolated pockets of wind slab exist in immediate lee areas on polar aspects from winds over the weekend. Moraine features have pockets of windslab from cold down flowing winds with some reactivity to skiiers noted. Numerous solar triggered natural avalanches observed off steep headwall features triggering storm slabs on lower fans up to size 2. The March 7 persistent weak layer was observed down 40-50 cms sitting on facets on polar aspects and crusts on solar aspects. No avalanches were observed on this layer but it still remained a concern through out the week. Large cornices exist and continue to be a hazard worth noting especially as temperatures warm up through out the day.

Have fun out there,

Mike Adolph and the crew from the Apprentice Ski Guide Exam