Mountain Safety Collective Backcountry Conditions Report – Friday 1 September

Mountainwatch | Mountain Safety Collective

It’s officially the first day of Spring, despite it seeming like we’ve had mostly spring skiing conditions since mid-July this year! This also heralds the annual migration to the Victorian Backcountry Festival this weekend. It’s not too late to pack the car and head to Hotham, with full program details and registration are available on the website at https://backcountryfestival.com.au

This week saw another couple of bouts of rain in the mountains with the resorts making a valiant effort to keep lower slopes open. It’s been a better story in the backcountry, with small top ups of snow keeping the alpine looking a lot fresher. If you’re new to backcountry skiing or keen to explore new zones, support your local backcountry guiding services by signing up for a tour or a specialised camp at this time of year.

The weather should clear through Friday into a clear and warm weekend, making for excellent backcountry touring and camping conditions. Clear nights will mean a refreeze of the snow surface, turning to spring corn as the days warm up. It’s still important to carry crampons for crisp morning ascents, but sunny slopes will quickly soften through the day. Having a plan for which slopes you’ll be skiing as the snow turns slushier is the key to scoring good turns at this time of year.

Be prepared for bush walks into and out of your favourite zones now that lower altitude snow is disappearing. We’ve been carrying a pair of light sneakers in our day pack for this purpose on recent tours.

The MSC daily Backcountry Condition Reports will soon flip to the “Spring Conditions” icon  with no daily reports, so here are some things to consider as we move deeper into spring.

Firstly, from an avalanche perspective, the main concern is typically wet releases. These can occur if things get too warm and the snowpack becomes isothermal. This is when the snowpack is all one temperature of 0 degrees and turns to unsupportive slush. The key is to watch the snowpack for deterioration. Avoid being in steep terrain when the snowpack loses support and becomes punchy while riding or walking.

Secondly, from a surface ice hazard, watch for cold overnight temperatures and clear sky. When either or both of these factors are present there will likely be icy conditions to start the day.

Lastly, winter-like storms can still occur well into September and beyond. When these happen, it is important to take a step back and treat wind loaded slopes with suspicion. Wind slabs are most unstable when they first form, and if they have formed on a melt-freeze crust, they may be more likely reactive to human triggering.

As always, pay close attention to any weather warnings and always fill out your trip intention forms for NSW or VIC. The Avalanche Training Centres at Hotham and Thredbo will get packed away for the year soon, so thanks to everyone that made use of them this year to hone their skills for Northern Hemi adventures!

For more information on staying safe in the backcountry, visit Mountain Safety Collective.