Avalanche Operations and Weekend Fun

As I have been on the road for a good part of the last 2 months, ice climbing, skiing and mountain biking I have been neglecting my blog. So to my followers and viewers my apologies for the delay. In the following blog post ill be showing you some pictures from my very busy 10 days on avalanche operations where I was able to find weak layers in the snow pack and do snow science in the Revel Stoke area BC. We were also able to set off controlled avalanches by ski cutting and cutting large cornices of snow. 

When we are not ski touring or flying into the backcountry by helicopter our third option is taking the snow cat into the backcountry. 

A picture of my skis just before I managed to break them.

Full snow profile work, yes this is the office.

Snow density tests on each layer of snow.

And after the work is done on the slopes the weekend fun starts. We climbed a 245 meter waterfall near Fields BC.

Mistaya ski touring.. In the middle of nowhere!

Jan 8th 2011 after arriving back from a trip from Saudi Arabia on the 6th the bags were packed in a hurry as my helicopter ride was leaving Golden, BC the next morning. Destination was near Mistaya lodge on the other side of Mount Baker from the bow hut glacier fields. We were going ski touring for 9 days in order to get some great skiing in and to concentrate a lot on snow science.

This is our landing spot up in the mountains

The first 3 days of our trip we were experiencing temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius which is on the verge of uncomfortable skiing. As the helicopter had weight restrictions i took only a small camera which froze at every great photo opportunity.

This is one of many full snow profiles we had done through out the week due to the persistent weak layers that have formed early this season.

We spent an afternoon burying transverse and practiced our avalanche rescue procedures.

As this was early season the snow pack was low at only about 70 cm but by day 4 a huge storm came in snowing 110 cm in 3 days which was record snow fall for the Rockies. This caused high avalanche danger in alpine, tree line and below tree line forcing us to ski low angled slopes. 

Most afternoon mid week we had whiteout navigation so decided to stay out of the alpine.

This was our home, we built a number of snow caves and shelters. This one housed 3 friends and I and was quite warm.

Departure day, this is one of three helicopter pickups to get us out of the back country.

Priorities and Procrastinations

As University takes priority over my adventures for now, I have not taken many trips lately. This next post of pictures was a hike we went on to blow off some of that university stress that builds up. Procrastination at its best is how I would describe it.

Although the time for trips has decreased as the year is ending, a new year will begin. As a heads up to keep checking out the blog every once in a while I can ensure some great trips to follow me on. Next year a number of trips are already planed including a week of Ice Climbing, Ski touring with helicopter access, a 17-day rock climbing expedition in California and we are aiming for at least 20 major mountaineering summits in 2011. Stay tuned, for an adventurous year ahead.