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Rogers Pass Conditions

  • powder
    2011-11-12 00:10:50

    A recent Mountain Conditions Report on conditions at Rogers Pass:


    Myself and 2 friends skied the Ursus trees in Rogers PAss today (friday Nov.11) 

    Here are some observations:

    elevation range traveled today: 1300m-2100m

    Temperature: warm.  0 degrees at 1300m at 4pm

    snowed 15cm throughout the day

    wind: calm to light from South

    snow depth: 60to100cm

    Avalanches:

    Size 1.5 slab avalanche was obsered.  This slide failed on the Nov7th surface hoar layer.  1950m.  NE aspect.  slope inclide: est. 27 degrees. depth of slab: est. at 40-60cm.  trigger: naural or skier triggered, not sure.  The slide crossed the exising uptract to Ursus Trees. 

    STS Couloir on Mt.Cheeops slid to middle of runout (300meters above valley bottom) 

    Snowpack notables:

    1) the Nov.7th surface hoar layer was observed down 50cm today.  This layer is ***HIGHLY*** reactive/unstable.  stepping on snow-mushrooms/mini convex rolls resulted in immediate failure of this layer with wide spread propagation and shooing cracks.  many whoomphs/setlements today.  The nov7h surface hoar crystals were observed up to size 7mm; that is relaively big and means that this layer will take a long time to stabilize.  The snow above the Nov.7th has formed a soft slab. (4F+ resistance). 

    2) the middle of the snow pack is dense enough to carry a skier.  Really good traveling conditions for this time of year. 

    I would rate danger as considerable below treeline and high at treeline.  We did not observe the alpine. 

    Really good ski quality!! 

  • 2011-11-13 05:09:59

    An update to the previous post (from MRC) with some new news and reasons to be cautious this early....


    We skied Ursus minor trees in Rogers Pass again today. 

    Here is an update. 

    A significant avalanche cycle occured today.  The cycle started with the arrival of the winds (around 11am-12pm)

    Numerious 1.0 to 2.0 slab avalanches were observed in the connaught creek drainage.

    Of note, the sides of the gully on the "frequent-flyer" path slid. Size 1.5 and the slab pulled out at around 1600m.  A small amount of debris ran over the uptrack.  The debris amount (that covered the uptrack) would have covered your skis, but not your boot tops. 

    Temperature: colder than friday.  -5 at 12:15pm at 1920m.

    Wind: moderate with strong gusts from the SW.  This means that north and east sloped were getting significanly wind loaded.

    The colder temperatures pulled moisture out of the snow, making for better ski quality. 

    Be careful out there!! 

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