10/11 Southern BC Interior conditions/Stoke thread

**alive** · 10-28-2010, 11:01 AM

Its about time to get this thread going.

Its been a pretty missirable October with dry skies and warm tempetures. Looked like a lot of precip over that past few days, so thought we'd go check out conditions at the Rogers pass yesterday. Knew it was going to be pretty sparse down low, but was hoping for some great turns higher up. This is what its like up there....

On the way up, out of the parking lot...

Still not skinable up the 8812 bowl. Balu pass in the background.

Still nothing skiable near the top. Its going to be a LONG day!

Finally! Just under a foot of fresh on the Glacier. A lot of open crevasses around there, so kept it simple with a couple laps of super light powder goodness.

The rest of the trip was pretty hard on the body with hours of downclimbing ice and snow covered rocks, and back to the car.
The classic Balu trail picture...

As always, though, it was great to be out again getting some great turns in the fresh...
Lets hope this weekend will give us a bit more to work with.

**AlexC** · 10-28-2010, 11:53 AM

I'm hoping to head up McCrae this weekend. I know people got turns up there back in September but that was before it became warm and dry again.

**Eldo** · 10-31-2010, 09:12 AM

I heard that there were some decent turns on the glacier yesterday. Someone make with the photos!

**Your mom's a snowblader** · 10-31-2010, 02:32 PM

Was up McCrae saturday and was pleasently surprised. Could skin from the parking lot and there was about 20-30cms on the glacier. Bring the rock skis if you're planning on skiing back to the parking lot, it's a little thin.

There were lots of people there. Get there while you can, the window for this spot is pretty small if you don't have a sled.

**AlexC** · 11-01-2010, 12:49 AM

Here's a video from McCrae Glacier on Halloween. It was pretty cloudy for most of the skin up but just as we hit the glacier the sky broke open and we had great visibility. We went up for a second lap but the clouds moved in and it was total whiteout.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGHclu_nJ9Q"]YouTube - Skiing McCrae Glacier - Halloween 2010[/nomedia]

Below the glacier the conditions were definitely early season. The gully had some nice rocks sitting just below the surface, the meadows were decent, and the track out was treacherous - but we did make it to the parking lot without walking.

**el hefe** · 11-03-2010, 11:35 AM

Nice vid. I have been in Maui (get back in 2 days) for the past 2 weeks. Dying to get up there. From checking the revy webcams it looks like there is a fair bit of snow down low. Any word on the snowline on the road up? Road conditions? Not really interested in skinning too far up that sucker from down low.

**Slaag Master** · 11-03-2010, 02:56 PM

god bless the boot pack - top stoke!

**AlexC** · 11-03-2010, 03:32 PM

Snow started at about 1,200m. There was no problem getting up to the parking load in an old Toyota 4-Runner. Freezing levels look like they'll stay high this week and not too much snow is forecast so I'd bet it will be similar this weekend.

**el hefe** · 11-08-2010, 01:00 PM

Any updates on Mcrae? I was way too tired to head up there on sat, amazing what surfing and drinking every day will do.........

Thinking thursday now. Revy webcam is looking promising, nice that they added the top of the ripper. Looks like a bit of snow coming.

**Meanfruit** · 11-08-2010, 05:10 PM

Colder temps and more precip is on the way, hopefully the start of something good!

**chrisrskibum** · 11-08-2010, 07:34 PM

Had a sweet day up on Mcrae on Sunday, blue skis and some fresh snow to play around with. Even managed a couple of fun lines of the peak. A little thin from the parking lot right now but the going gets good right away. Have fun!

**monostevieb** · 11-08-2010, 07:47 PM

on that note, is there anyone in the nelson area who is up for a trip to kootenay pass this week - tues/weds, or thursday, and beyond? skins and trekkers...
it looks pretty nice on the webcam today - some new snow after the rain - worth going up to check it out, i think. i live in nelson town, but i dont have a vehicle, though i can chip in for gas.

**monostevieb** · 11-08-2010, 07:58 PM

puking at kootenay pass right now. check out drivebc

**el hefe** · 11-09-2010, 10:56 AM

Had a sweet day up on Mcrae on Sunday, blue skis and some fresh snow to play around with. Even managed a couple of fun lines of the peak. A little thin from the parking lot right now but the going gets good right away. Have fun!

We will, always love the first day out up there!

**nickinbc** · 11-15-2010, 02:42 PM

Spent the weekend at the Asulkan. Just enough snow to skin all the way up - apart from a few short bare patches. Despite very flat light enjoyed pleasant snow above the hut. There is still plenty of exposed rock on ridges/moraines and crevasses are not filled in at all. Tree triangle was ok as far down as the summer trail. Quite a bit of walking back along the valley bottom.

Whatever happened to la Nina?

**el hefe** · 11-15-2010, 03:19 PM

Whatever happened to la Nina?

she just started man!

Was up at Mcrae on Thursday, pleasantly surprised on the great coverage. Skied all the way back to the trucks, barely any base damage. Will try again this weekend, should be really good with all the new snow as long as you can get up there on the road.

**RyanPete81** · 11-15-2010, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by nickinbc

Whatever happened to la Nina?

La nina weather patterns can be predicted months in advance, however, the effects of cooling in the pacific don't often have ramifications on our weather until late December, early January...patience.

**the_teo** · 11-15-2010, 04:09 PM

What are the best websites for weather/snow data in Fernie?

**Sparwood Dave** · 11-15-2010, 04:18 PM

I use this site
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Fernie/
It's not awful and is more accurate than most which isn't necessarily saying much.

**the_teo** · 11-15-2010, 04:25 PM

Thanks man!

**AlexC** · 11-15-2010, 04:34 PM

Was up on McCrae Sunday and it was much, much better than on Halloween. We didn't get to the top of the glacier because of poor visibility but you could ski the gullies below it without worrying about rocks (well, a little worrying) and the meadows down from the upper lake had great coverage. There was even great turns to be had in the trees and the ski out back to the parking lot was no longer a treacherous death run.

Judging by the amount of snow on the road Sunday and the forecast for this week, you're going to need a snowplow or a sled to make it up the road this weekend.

Edit: a couple of pictures
Just below the glacier:

'Your mom's a snow blader' in the trees, just before hitting the ski-out.

**el hefe** · 11-15-2010, 04:46 PM

Judging by the amount of snow on the road Sunday and the forecast for this week, you're going to need a snowplow or a sled to make it up the road this weekend.

Might have to fire up a sled then. Gorge won't be ready, the pass still looks really thin.......