The mountain we call no name elkford

Submitted by
andrewchaudet
Observations date
Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 20:00
Location
49.993950° N 114.970184° W
Reporting on
  • Snow conditions
Map for Mountain Information Network report: The mountain we call no name elkford

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
OK
Snow conditions were:
  • Deep powder
  • Heavy
  • Powder
  • Wet
  • Wind affected
We rode:
  • Cut blocks
  • Mellow slopes
  • Open trees
  • Sunny slopes
We stayed away from:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Convex slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Cloudy
  • Sunny
  • Warm
  • Windy
Avalanche conditions
  • Slab avalanches today or yesterday.
  • 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.
  • Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.
  • Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Comments

It was a touchy one above town today. We found buried surface hoar and facets depending the aspect with 15cms heavy dense snow on top. Lots of shooting cracks and whomps from 1800-2200m on a protected east facing slope. HS 140-160 that elevation band also. Once we got into the more dense trees conditions were better and the cracks and noises stopped, gained the far lookers right ridge. Noticed a lot of drum sounding, hollow snow at ridge top broke off a 1m x 1m x 50cm slab that dropped but didn’t run… but we did and quickly. It had warmed up close to 0 at 12:30 @2200m but the sun was mostly behind cloud all day 3/4 sky. High winds from the sw on ridge top lots snow transport. Across the valley there was a slab avalanche south face wapiti size 1.5 possible rock fall from animal above. couldn’t tell how deep.