Feb 17-20 bonnington traverse

Riding quality was:

Amazing

Snow conditions were:

• Powder

We rode:

• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Cut blocks
• Steep slopes

Avalanche conditions

• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.
• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Visiting from Vancouver. Had a wonderful four days doing the Bonnington traverse. Took some conservative paths and lines due to conditions.

Serious whumphing in flat meadows areas, elevation band 1600-1700m ish. Felt this in the way to Grassi and on the way to Steed, but not on the next few days. Travelling along some flat meadows (from Grassi to steed) noticed a huge whumph and shooting cracks 5m from skis. It felt like the entire meadows had collapsed.

Conducted a few snow tests - see summary/comments under snowpack tab. Visiting the area so not super familiar with the snowpack - did my best guess at the layers given prior research and what we’ve experienced.

Skied mellow slopes, lots of powder to go around. No instabilities noted on our laps. Typically skied +/-100-200m above and below each hut, give or take.