Shames backcountry—alpine and sub-alpine runs

Quick report

Weather

cloudy, stormy

Ride Type

alpineSlopes, openTrees, steepSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

deepPowder, powder, wet

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSnow

We did a Rutschblock test in the sub-alpine on the Dome shoulder with good results—meaning that the overall snowpack was really well bonding, (it’s of course only a result on an easterly aspect, but it did confirm a general sense we had of the current snowpack) and no significant weak layers. The alpine and sub-alpine skied really well, especially towards the end of the day with the upper snowpack losing rapidly its moisture with colder temperatures/clear skies. We did experience everything from wet to dry powder today, with up to 45cm of new snow in sheltered areas. We skied quite far on the Zymacord Ridge, expect traveling to be a bit longer than expected and usual as the ridge is quite convoluted with small rock bands and snow trenches. Overall it was a day with lots of diversity from nice clearings to snowstorm, deep dry powder and wet isothermal snow (in the beginning of the day at low elevations).