Phalanx and Spearhead Glacier

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Phalanx and Spearhead Glacier

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Good
Snow conditions were:
  • Crusty
  • Powder
We rode:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Steep slopes
  • Sunny slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Sunny
Avalanche conditions
  • Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Comments

We climbed onto the Spearhead Gl via the Guide's Notch and up Stairmaster on Phalanx. We rode down the steeper skier's right slope of the Spearhead Glacier, and as well as a SE facing couloir on Phalanx back down to the glacier. The wind has made the loading of the new snow somewhat variable. Many areas had 10cms or less over a 2-5cm crust, others had windblown snow up to 20cms (very soft) over soft old surfaces. Solar aspects skied surprisingly well and were cross-loaded, but certain solar exposed areas were either moist or had formed a new surface crust. No reactivity was observed in the new snow but there was sluffing in steep terrain skied. No avalanches observed in the backcountry today.