Soft turns in the Shames Backcountry

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Open trees
• Sunny slopes

The day was:

• Sunny
• Warm

Avalanche conditions

• Slab avalanches today or yesterday.
• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

We checked out the Shames Backcountry today.

We observed a previous avalanche cycle (size 1-2) from Wednesday's storm. We saw one size-2 persistent slab in steep, rocky terrain on an east aspect. Avalanches that were 24-48 hours old. We did not observe any new avalanches today.

We additionally observed some wind effected snow at treeline ridge crests and on a treeline/alpine north aspect. There was a light southwest wind today.

In most treeline areas there is around 30cm of unconsolidated snow sitting on 20cm of old settled snow. Below this there is a crust that exists up to at least 1400m.

Temperatures remained below freezing over the day and there was a bit of afternoon cloud.

There is surface hoar (2-5mm) on the snow surface at treeline and below treeline.

That Shames Backcountry was great today! We look forward to our next trip out there. Enjoy the weekend!