Upper Victoria glacier

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Upper Victoria glacier

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Amazing
Snow conditions were:
  • Crusty
  • Heavy
  • Powder
We rode:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Sunny slopes

Information

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

Comments

Stopped short of our objective which was N Vic - Collier col - Headwall didn’t look inviting at all - thin, rocky with old slabs and loose wet debris with cornices to finish it all. Pulled the pin at 2900m or so.

Avi path next to the teahouse went size 3-3.5 during the last cycle. You can see the pocket that popped in red - it went full path and up the bottom moraine - it was yuge.

Most E facing overhead heading up the valley also went during the last cycle.

Probed over 280cm at 2700m - no significant cracks or dips except near séracs. 35cm to the March 20th and 105cm to Feb 3rd - right side up snowpack.

Sun packed a punch - we had moist surface snow up to 2900m and were skiing heavy mashed potatoes in the avi path.

Observed some size 1.5/2 Na loose wet that ran quite a bit that initiated in steep unskiabke terrain.

Surprise pass had more tracks than Delirium Dive. Access gully to Aberdeen was quite rocky. Noticed wind effect at Abbott pass towards Lefroy.