Mountain Safety Collective Backcountry Conditions Report – Friday June 30
Mountainwatch | Mountain Safety Collective
We had an interesting run of weather in the mountains over the past week with a large band of tropical moisture streaming across the continent and playing havoc with accurate forecasting.
This system luckily intersected with enough cold air over the mountains to bring top ups of new snow to higher elevations and continued to build the snowpack depth on leeward (Easterly) slopes in the backcountry.
The theme of the week was the strong winds which transported snow to leeward slopes, whilst exposed ridgetops and windward (Westerly) slopes have significantly shallower cover.
What does this mean for the weekend ahead in the backcountry? Friday and Saturday’s weather is forecast to remain unstable, with the weather clearing through Sunday and Monday before the next front arrives on Tuesday.
In the alpine, visibility will likely be poor with a high chance of whiteout conditions over the next couple of days. Be prepared for whiteout navigation. There may be small isolated wind slabs on southeasterly slopes, so watch out for unstable snow on wind-loaded ridges. Cornices continue to develop and yesterday some small natural cornice failures were noted. Use great care on ridge crests and avoid overhead hazard if possible.
Above 1800m conditions are quite variable, so look for the best turns in sheltered areas. Wind scoured areas are covered with rime crusts and sastrugi (wind eroded snow) making for interesting travel on ridge crests. Carrying ski and/or boot crampons is advisable for climbs on steeper slopes.
Lower slopes below 1700m still have shallower cover, so still be prepared for unsupported snow, buried hazards and open creeks on lower approaches and exits.
There have been rapid changes in the weather in recent days, so pay close attention to any weather warnings and always fill out your trip intention forms for NSWor VIC.
If you’re keen for some pre-season backcountry training, Mountain Safety Collective have set up Avalanche Training Centres at Hotham and a new one at Thredbo.
For more information on staying safe in the backcountry, visit Mountain Safety Collective.
