Mountain Safety Collective Backcountry Conditions Report, Friday 21 July – Locked Up In Ice

Mountainwatch | Mountain Safety Collective

The past week was dominated by high pressure systems keeping skies clear and temperatures cold. This has been great for snow making in the resorts and groomed runs, but the backcountry has been locked up in ice since the surface froze after the last big snowfall two weeks ago.

This ice covers most ungroomed slopes at all elevations and there have been several people fall and take uncontrolled slides. As a result, it’s not a good time for skiing or snowboarding in the backcountry.

There were dustings of fresh snow on Tuesday and Thursday nights as a couple of weaker cold fronts passed over the mountains, but this only accumulated in small patches on leeward slopes. On days when the wind has been light, it has warmed up enough on sunny slopes to soften the snow at lower elevations, but these moments have been fleeting.

What does this mean for your planned backcountry trips this weekend? Until a decent storm or warm temperatures reset the surface conditions, it’s dangerous to travel in the mountains due to the ice hazard. If you are venturing out, make sure you’re carrying spiky tools for the ascent, such as ski crampons, boot crampons and ice axes. Take conservative routes on both the up and down and be very aware of any exposure you have if you fall. “Slide for life” is a major safety consideration at the moment.

As always, pay close attention to any weather warnings and always fill out your trip intention forms for NSWor VIC. If you’re keen for some transceiver training, Mountain Safety Collective have set up Avalanche Training Centresat Hotham and a new one at Thredbo.

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