March 24-27 Wendy Thompson Hut, BC
3/24/15
Canada BC
2442
1
Headed up north to BC and the Cayoosh Pass zone mainly to be able to make a basecamp up high in someplace besides a tent. Route to the hut is skinable and skiable from the road, but pretty thin and squirrelly until above 1600 meters.
2+ meters of snow in upper Marriott basin. Pow on all but east aspects on 3/24, with warming conditions, snowfall and variable whiteouts on 3/25, eventually turning to rain on 3/26. Got a quick and surprisingly enjoyable run on refreezing raincrust and/or shmoo on 3/27 in the sunshine with great views all around. There was a layer of facets buried 40-50 cms deep that gave moderate (CT17) results on east aspects before the rain and warming. At some point during the rain/warmth almost every north slope in the basin with sufficient convexity avalanched its most recent snow (maybe on the facets layer?)
Overall, a great time despite being a day too late for the best skiing. Lots of ideas for future trips.
2+ meters of snow in upper Marriott basin. Pow on all but east aspects on 3/24, with warming conditions, snowfall and variable whiteouts on 3/25, eventually turning to rain on 3/26. Got a quick and surprisingly enjoyable run on refreezing raincrust and/or shmoo on 3/27 in the sunshine with great views all around. There was a layer of facets buried 40-50 cms deep that gave moderate (CT17) results on east aspects before the rain and warming. At some point during the rain/warmth almost every north slope in the basin with sufficient convexity avalanched its most recent snow (maybe on the facets layer?)
Overall, a great time despite being a day too late for the best skiing. Lots of ideas for future trips.
WT Hut I have fond memories of. I spent five nights there and it snowed over two and half meters. Over a meter fell one night. Needless to say it was a continuous week of face shots. The only scary part was half the time I was solo. Sometimes folks were too scared to come in due to the avvie danger and with good reason.
Too bad about the rain, but at least you got a couple of good days.
Too bad about the rain, but at least you got a couple of good days.
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