Kootenay Pass/Whitewater

Snowpack

allenclimbs · Jan 22, 2018 · Ymir

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Quick report

Riding Quality
amazing

Spent two days in the backcountry around Kootenay Pass (South) and Whitewater (Five Mile) Similar snowpacks at both areas, ranging from 215-230cm. Quite supportive low density powder skiing at both areas with north slopes (glades) above 1700m being well preserved. At Kootenay Pass below 1700m (north) there was a temperature/rain crust that was felt especially around denser trees but with almost 50cm of new snow on top the skiing remained great.

Snowpack

Obs Type
summary
Test Fracture
sudden
Test Initiation
hard

At Twin Lakes (Kootenay Pass) & Whitewater (Five Mile) compression test failure at 95cm on surface hoar from late Dec/early Jan? Storm slab (45-50cm) was soft and not consolidating yet, no signs of any major instabilities in the last few days.