Whitewater backcountry
While touring in the Black Queen / Five Mile area yesterday we found evidence of a fairly widespread avalanche cycle up to size 2 on all aspects with notables out of the Hummer A & B Shafts (N), West Ymir (N), Goat Slide (SW), White Queen North Bowl (N), and Evening Ridge (E). Several of these seemed skier triggered, with the deepest crown (40-50cm on a SW aspect) involving only the storm layers in the upper snowpack.
Of note was the number of thin slabs (10-15cm observed on SE through N aspects) that had released in various pockets within the trees but often not on the more open slopes.
We found several resistant shears within the top 50cm on a North aspect at 2100m, and were able to kick off a surface slough in steep terrain that ran far and fast.
There have been a number of good convective storms in the past few days (yesterday included) which continue to build the snowpack. I was unable to touch ground while shoving my probe down 3.5m at ridge top. Looks like it might be a short summer at these elevations. Massive cornices too - things will get nasty when it heats up!
Despite thinly buried crusts on all but steeper northerly aspects, we had a great day of skiing and even found very reasonable turns on a SW aspect in tight trees to make it back to the car.
Cheers,
Shaun King ACMG / UIAGM Mountain Guide
Mountain Sense Guiding & Instruction
