McGill glades

Quick report

Weather

foggy, cloudy

Ride Type

convexSlopes, openTrees

Stayed Away

convexSlopes, alpineSlopes, steepSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

wet, crusty, powder

Careful evaluation of the entrance into Camp West Lite from ECT taps in a pit dug by friends changed the objective to skiing McGill shoulder glades (ECTP 18). A rider in our group triggered a size 1 slab avalanche in an open patch of trees that had small convex features. Crown width was about 60-70 feet across, and failed within the top 15-20 cm of new snow. Rider was okay! Of note, the snow ~4400 ft and below seemed rain effected (rain crust and firm). Hard-pressed to call it "good skiing" down low, but made for a fast ski out on the summer trail.