North Rockies - McGregor Ranges

Feb 25-26 Some obs from skiing in the Torpy, Sande, and Gleason Creek areas last few days. Wx: High pressure building into the zone today, with sunny sky, light NW winds, and -15c at Treeline. Snowpack: Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow, is cold, low density in sheltered areas. However, this overlies a stiiffer 30cm layer that sits on the Feb 16 Surface Hoar on North aspects, and a Crust/Facet combo on South facing terrain. The layer IS reactive to skier traffic, and I would also assume a Sled, at treeline, and even below treeline. Even though you are riding in loose powder, the stiffer slab above the Feb 16 layer is reactive, and touchy anywhere steeper than say mid 30 degree terrain, even in protected mature forest. In Alpine and open areas, there is variable wind effect and windslabs from the last sev days of SE winds. Avalanches: Skier controlled, up to Size 1.5 and skiier remotes. These are failing down 50-70cm on the Feb 16 layers. I would fully expect a larger avalanche in bigger terrain features. Numerous natural loose sluffs to size 1.5 on South aspects, triggered from the sun today, in steep, rocky areas. Tread lightly for awhile. Everywhere I dug today to investigate this layer, it was found, and producing Mod shears. Things will remain the same, as these cold temps only preserve the layer. Sean Fraser ACMG Ski Guide