- Submitted by
- l.a.dornian
- Observations date
- Friday, March 6, 2026 at 21:00
- Location
- 49.065039° N 117.050170° W
- Reporting on
- Snow conditions
%2F-117.05017000382206%2C49.065039405052204%2C8%2C0%2C0%2F1026x200%3Faccess_token%3Dpk.eyJ1IjoiYXZhbGFuY2hlY2FuYWRhIiwiYSI6ImNqd2dvZmUxdzE4ZWg0M2tkaXpuNG95aTQifQ.pBLM87fE3sIxRJqJT7Bf7g&w=1200&q=75 "Sussing out the snowpack in Kootenay pass")
Quick
Avalanche
Snowpack
Weather
Incident
Information
- Is this a point observation or a summary of your day?
- Point observation
- Elevation above sea level
- 1,950m
- Elevation band
- Treeline
- Aspect
- E
- NE
- Snowpack depth
- 270cm
- Did you observe whumpfing?
- No
- Did you observe cracking?
- No
- Foot penetration
- 30cm
- Ski penetration
- 2cm
- Snowpack test result
- Hard
- Snowpack test fracture character
- Sudden (`pop` or `drop`)
- Snowpack test failure depth
- 65cm
- Surface conditions
- Crust
- New snow
- Variable
- Snowpack test failure layer crystal type
- Crust
Comments
Dug a pit at treeline, E/NE on cornice ridge. Column Test failed on crust aprox 65 cm down. Failure occured after 12th hit from the shoulder indicating the weak layer is beginning to bond with the surrounding snow. Second failure just 10 cm below on another crust. Snow appears consolidated below the second crust. Rode east aspect off cornice-buzz col. Skiing was surprisingly enjoyable with several CM of soft snow on firm supportive snow. South aspect back to the car had a breakable crust.
