Snowpack Update Dec 7 2023
Hello everyone, Judson here to provide you with a silver lining update!
After the somber mood and disappointment from yesterday, I want to share some silver linings regarding the current state of our mountains and snowpack. I understand that Wishy's SOTS yesterday and Rebeckah's update were a letdown. I thank them for delivering the truth. Sometimes it is hard to take, but I do believe that things change from day to day and today was a much better scene than I anticipated.
Curiosity got the best of me today, or perhaps I did not have anything else to do (LOL). I went for a tour with KBG guide Kyle Gorenko toward White Queen from Hummingbird.
Firstly, this atmospheric river was unprecedented, as far as I know. I have never seen a storm deliver that much rain in this region since I moved here 25 years ago. That's not to say it has never happened, just not in my experience. 2021 was close, but the difference was the freezing level in 2021 was at 1800m. We just witnessed freezing levels above the mountain tops.
😀I am pleased to report what found I view as good news! I won’t sugarcoat things, but I view my tour today as being very positive.
Speaking of positives, let’s start there.
SNOWPACK DEPTHS
I was pleasantly surprised by what I found today. The rain turned to snow last night and delivered 20cm of dry snow. The rain did not wash away all the accumulated snow thus far. In fact, above 1750m, I found more snow than before the rain. Below 1700m, not so much.
Hummingbird parking = 50cm
1750m = 90cm
1950m = 90-110cm
The coverage from what I saw above me looked decent, considering the circumstances.
⚠️Of course, the lower your elevation, the worse it gets. Skiing in the forest, especially below 1750m, is treacherous.
AVALANCHE ACTIVITY
We did not see much due to clouds, but there was some avalanche activity in 5 Mile and Ymir. The activity was limited to loose wet avalanches up to size 2 out of steeper than 40-degree terrain. It wouldn't surprise me if there were slab activities once the skies cleared.
LAYERS
Early December surface hoar, up to 20mm in size, appears undisturbed despite the rain. It is found down 35-40cm. It's very obvious where present.
The entire snowpack was rain-soaked except for the top 20cm. It was like skiing on powder sitting on spring melt freeze.
We felt many whumpfs and saw cracking under our skis.
Other than the December surface hoar, there is not much to see—mostly moist snow with a couple of crusts that will likely become one layer when it dries out.
I assume there are some wind slabs in the Lee slopes from southerly winds; we did not see any in our travels.
CHALLENGES
Creeks: The creeks are raging and open. Avoid them until we get more snow, and it freezes up.
Low Snowpack: Especially below 1700m and in the forest, rocks, stumps, randomly riding into an alder patch—all the normal early-season cautions are in play.
OUTLOOK
What does this all mean? I have never seen an event like this. I don't know if it will crust up, or how hard the crust will be, and I don't know if the surface hoar will bond in the moist snow. We do our best to forecast, but there are so many factors at play. Temperature, snowfall amounts, and wind will play a role moving forward.
CONCLUSIONS
Patience is key here. I think that if we get a good dump of snow before Christmas (30-50 cm) there will be excellent conditions.
Judson Wright
Lead Guide/Owner
Kootenay Backcountry Guides
Be sure to always check Avalanche Canada before heading out into the backcountry!
