Crowsnest: Cornice and Crusty

Cornices were the problem of the day in the Crowsnest today. We witnessed a natural cornice fall from a safe spot on a ridge feature just after noon. Yesterday's cornice falls in the area triggered some thin storm slabs, but today's cornice did not. The snow was crusty in the am, and riding quality was pretty terrible. By the afternoon things were just starting to soften in places exposed to the sun. The snow was dry enough in the very high alpine to allow for some some wind transport and fresh cornice growth with moderate south west winds. Access from Atlas staging is still snow the whole way!