5 Mile Area

Map for Mountain Information Network report: 5 Mile Area

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Amazing
Snow conditions were:
  • Deep powder
We rode:
  • Dense trees
  • Mellow slopes
We stayed away from:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Convex slopes
  • Steep slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Stormy
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

AST1 Course Obs: Arrived at 5 mile with heavy snowfall and high S.winds through the pass. HST = 35cm. Skinned up to 800m, with ski pen 30cm, easy hand shears and shooting cracks on HST. High S. winds and significant snow transport crossloading entire area. We had numerous settlements and remote triggering of Sz 0.5 in low angle, supported simple terrain. The higher we climbed, the stiffer the slab due to winds.

Test Profile: 720m, W aspect, S-4, shows a fairly well consolidated snowpack with numerous crusts. 35-45cm of HST overlies a MfCr? which was bonding poorly. ECTP2 down 35 on DF 1.5, CTE4, 5 down 35 on DF 1.5. HS of 240cm.

Heavy snowfall made the trip back eventful!