Storm Slab

Attempted Mt. Quadra via the Consolation Lakes approach. On ascent up the couloir, below Bident/Quadra, we encountered snow slab conditions that were concerning enough for us to turn around. The slab thickness quickly increased from 5 to 100cm thick with increasing thickness/stiffness and as you ascended higher. The bond strength at the interface between the storm slab and the MF (melt freeze) crust below wasn't as strong as we'd have liked and it did produce planar shears on inspection.

It's still avalanche season out there.

Photos are of the ascent couloir, the slab, east face of Fay, and impressive avalanche aftermath off Panorama ridge from the winter.

Have a fun summer!

Patrick Lindsay
Ridgeline Guiding Services