Surprise Pass
Avalancheflagler.grant · Mar 9, 2023 · Lake Louise
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny, cold
- Ride Type
- alpineSlopes
- Stayed Away
- convexSlopes
- Riding Quality
- good
- Snow Conditions
- windAffected, powder
Skinned up Saddleback Pass to Surprise Pass in the Lake Louise backcountry. We found 5cm of HST overlying a hard slab on all aspects at TL and in the Alpine. HS varied from 30cm in scoured areas at TL to 110cm in wind loaded pockets. Na (I) observed from the north face of Victoria in the afternoon. Although difficult to make out the crown of the avalanche, we’d likely call it a size 2 given the mass of snow that pulled out and it’s destructive potential. Ski quality ranged from new storm snow on top of a hard slab for the first 300m and became less wind effected as we moved down the feature. Better than expected ski conditions with a few sharks still lurking here and there due to variable HS. No other evidence of natural activity in the area. Weather remained cool all day with light winds on the Saddleback side and Calm winds once we cleared the pass
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 500
- Trigger Type
- natural
- Avalanche Size
- 2
- Start Zone Aspect
- N
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Avalanche Character
- deepPersistentSlab
- Number Of Avalanches
- 1
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2700
- Avalanche Observation
- 12hrsAgo
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2023-12-23T20:45:00.000Z
Na (I) on the North Face of Victoria observed by our party of 4 from Surprise Pass. Triggered by serac fall at approximately 13:45. Impressive powder cloud that scrubbed a very steep section of Vic.