Here are some observations I’ve gathered recently while skiing in the Slocan Range. HS ranges from 35cm at 1600m to ~115cm above 2200m. Steep solar aspects (S-SW) have a melt freeze crust on them to mountain top. In sheltered areas, surface hoar overlies this crust. The forests are unskiable, you can slide on snow in them, but I wouldn’t really recommend trying to make turns. Good skiing can be found on smooth terrain features. Most everything else is survival skiing.
Today’a observations:
~5cm of low density new snow overlies a variety of surfaces from surface hoar to 25mm in sheltered areas up to 2000m, to facets, wind effected snow and melt freeze crust on solar aspects.
Notable compression test results on a N aspect at 2270m (Height of Snow 115cm) were CTM 14,15 (Sudden Collapse) down 85cm in four finger minus facets (size 2-3mm) below a 4mm IFrc with a 40cm 1 finger plus slab above it. See attached photos for snowpack structure and resistance.
The ENE face of Mt Alwyn had produced a size 2.5 avalanche in one of the recent wind events—presumably on the basal facets. The start zone was obscured, but the visible part of the face was scrubbed almost to ground.
Looking forward to the incoming snow!
Conor Hurley
www.arctosguides.com
