Helena Ridge East

Riding quality was:

OK

Snow conditions were:

• Heavy
• Wet

We rode:

• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Stormy
• Warm

Avalanche conditions

• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Weather: 3 short periods of high wind, heavy precip (graupel, wet snow), & low visibility (~50m) from 9am-3pm; otherwise warm, calm, low ceiling, 800m to 1.5km visibility.

Temp: 0°C at trailhead at 10am; -3°C at trailhead at 2:30pm.

Snow: Heavy & wet; skied like wet concrete mix. HS 100-120cm at TL, HS ~60cm BTL.

Decisions: Based on an acquaintance’s report of surface hoar on ridge descent last weekend, our own observations of 5-10cm new snow on Jan 1, & our observations of warm temps & periods of blizzard-like conditions that morning, we considered possibility of encountering wind loading & new heavy wet on ridge. At TL we had blizzard-like conditions, 25 – 50 m visibility, & couldn’t see the ridge; we chose to ski down in the trees close to our skin track.