I just returned from a week of ski touring at Sorcerer Lodge with fellow guides Ian Kirschner and Mike Tattersfield.

It was a truly amazing week for weather and skiing, beginning with four days of dry April powder on Sorcerer's abundant NW to NE terrain. Early on there was moderate avalanche hazard from isolated wind loading of the 20 cm new snow that greeted us on our arrival but this settled out quickly.

The highlight of the week was Wednesday's ascent of Mt. Iconoclast, with boot packing up to 52° and skiing in the 45° range on the north side.

The last three days of our trip saw a ramping up of the warm weather (up to +10°) and clear skies with decreasing overnight crust recoveries. We had early starts (6 am) with early finishes (around noon) which limited our range, but skiing and low a.m. hazard still allowed for excellent tours like the Traverse of the Angels, Nordic Centre and West peaks, and the Khumbu Glacier run (steep due north and still dry powder Friday morning!)

A widespread "Spring Diurnal" wet avalanche cycle started on solar aspects on Wednesday and progressed to all elevations and aspects by yesterday (Saturday) up to size 3.5, with impressive deep failures down 1.5+ m on what we suspect was the November facets/crusts. In the mornings we were calling hazard low (1/1/1), worsening with the heat of the day. Yesterday hazard progressed quickly to Extreme (5/5/5) by 11 a.m. by which time we were already safely back at the lodge enjoying impressive views of the avalanche cataclysms surrounding us.

Today dawned wet and stormy, with snow coming down hard but melting just about as quickly at the lodge elevation of 2030 m. I would bet the alpine got another 20+ cm of the white stuff today though. This incredible winter (almost) without end isn't giving up without a fight.

Regards,
Tom Wolfe
Mountain Guide
2019 Ski Touring Trips: www.sawback.com/winter-2019