Motherall peak

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Deep powder
• Heavy
• Wet
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cold
• Wet

Avalanche conditions

• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.
• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Avalanche danger was high due to recent warming and persistent slab problems in the whole of Yukon. Although the day got somewhat cold (-15 or so) the snow was still wet deep and heavy from the recent warming. There was significant wind loading from a recent south wind but on this day there was a light breeze from the north. The north facing slopes in the Alpine were loaded with extra snow while the south-facing slopes were scoured and many rocks were visible (see pic of Alpine).

I skinned through the forest for several hours and then up through the tree line. I had plans to enter the Alpine sticking to a high ridge above the likely start zone and track from the wind loaded North facing slope, but it was too late in the day by the time I got up above the treeline to go any further. Skiing back down on the low angled slopes was tough because the snow was wet and sticky and deep and I could not get momentum basically had to follow my skin tracks down.

Not the greatest day but glad I got out there it was still beautiful and fun to get the exercise and see great views. If I had more time I would have driven further South to get higher up so I wouldn't have had to skin through dense forest for many hours.