Blackcomb to Mt. Currie Traverse

Quick report

Riding Quality

good

We skied through a variety of terrain and conditions on the Blackcomb-Currie Traverse between 20171231 and 20180102. Temperatures were ideal for a traverse, hovering between -5 at night and -0.5 during the day at and above treeline. Winds were mostly calm or light with Moderate to strong Monday morning accompanied by 1cm of precip. In the alpine, crusts formed on solar aspects and wind has affected most of the snow above treeline except for N, NE, NW aspects which still had great ski quality as of Tuesday. Numerous past natural storm slab avalanches were observed and likely occurred towards the end of the last storm cycle. Notable was one size 2 on a NW cross-loaded slope at ~1800m in Wedge creek on the flanks of Tremor Mtn. Numerous size 2's on E face of NE ridge of Wedge. One size 2-3 on NW slope of unnamed glacier above Mystery creek. In summary, most slab activity above treeline was from steep NE, N, NW, and E aspects, mostly in wind loaded terrain, and started in shallow rocky areas. Below Treeline, in Wedge pass, there were numerous size 1 storm slabs and one size 2 in S/SE facing openings, likely ran on Dec 15th crust and surface hoar. Widespread whumpfing in valley bottoms (Wedge creek and Wedge pass). Facetting below the Dec 15th crust in Alpine. Warm >0 degrees temps were found between 1100-1700m upon descent off Mt. Currie making for wet, heavy snow. Below this the snow (and SH) was cold and well preserved. HS on Weart glacier was 135 with some saggy snow bridges and semi-filled in crevasses. Overall, when travelling through steep alpine terrain we avoided convexities and shallow areas, and when travelling below treeline we avoided openings. Mid winter inversions make for great spring-like traverses!