Jan 31, 2025 4 min read Powder Highway Backcountry Conditions Report

Capow!

The top part of a 700m descent off the E face of Ymir Peak.

The pow gun has turned back on again; in the past 24 hours Kootenay Pass has received 29cm of snow at -4 cm with moderate SW winds. The recent dump has been a sight for sore eyes as we've had very little snowfall in the past three weeks. The clear skies made for great travelling conditions and good stability for ticking off some bigger objectives. However it has also produces a widespread surface condition on all aspects and elevations. This freshly buried layer is something we will be dealing with for the foreseeable future as there is a robust layer of surface hoar on shaded aspects and facets below a melt freeze crust on steep solar aspects.

Svein Tuft enjoying some awesome travelling conditions earlier this week on a big tour as part of a Backcountry Ski Camp for Endurance Athletes we offered in conjunction with Tuft Camps. We'll be offering a few of these in 2026.

Currently the Mt Fidelity snow study plot sits at 192cm. While Kootenay Pass is showing 176cm at the highway. The Central Selkirks around Rogers Pass a bit less than the Kootenays overnight.

Surface hoar up to 60mm was observed recently in the Kootenays

Snowpack Concerns

Jan 7/10, 16, 21, 30 Approximately 30cm of new snow has buried the January surface hoar/ facet and melt freeze interface. In sheltered areas, surface hoar to 60mm overlies 15-30cm of fist facets with intermittent layers of surface hoar over top of a strong mid and lower snowpack. The recent storm snow was highly reactive to skier traffic today at Kootenay Pass and was failing on the Jan 30 surface hoar or melt freeze crust. (It was less touch on south aspects than north aspects where the surface hoar was preserved.)

This has created elevated avalanche conditions.

The January 7th SH/FC layer is deeper in the Central Selkirks and can be found down 30-60cm. Avalanches triggered on the Jan 30 layer will possible step down to the Jan 7th layer and create larger avalanches.

Windslabs The recent storm has come in with a fair amount of wind. Expect wind loading on NW- SE aspects. Stay vigilant when entering lee features.

Excellent ski quality can be found in low consequence terrain.

Outlook

This week looks like just what the doctor ordered; a steady stream of moisture with seasonal temperatures is heading for the Powder Highway. Check out this 10 day model. Vigilance will be required when travelling in the backcountry as this instability will not go away anytime soon.