Canada snow report: Rockies, Selkirks, Yukon, Coast

Early season snow report from the Canadian mountains says that some already ski, some are very close, and some are still riding bikes and hiking.

After receiving couple of emails with snow conditions from various places a friend of mine suggested it would be good to write it up in a report. And especially the early season conditions are important to share since they can either safe some driving or jump star the season.

I will try to come up with such a snow report on a “regular schedule” as the season progresses but I am yet to define the word “regular”. And I hope that guys won’t mind using their direct quotes with my occasional comments.

Rockies (Oct 8, 2009 – Canmore area)

“We’ve got 6-8 cm  of fresh in Canmore. Not pow shredding, but I’ll be on the xc boards tomorrow,” Steve wrote.

6-8 cm is not much but for Canmore is close to peak season conditions…after all it beats the Coast right now

Selkirks (Oct 8, 2009 – Rogers Pass)

Andrew works and plays in the same mountains, so he knows his backyard. Here is what he reported for Rogers Pass area:

“I went  up to the Asulkan cabin yesterday and there was about 2 cm of melt freeze graupel at 1700m and 10 cm of nice fluffy pristine face-shot quality pow at the cabin (2000m), almost enough to cover up all the rocks, almost.

When I left work today there was some serious flurries going on, so there is proably a few more cms now. But that is all. It’s a good start and I hear there is more on it’s way, so the first turns will be soon.”

Yukon (Oct 8, 2009 – Whitehorse)

Yukon seems to be doing the best so far. With the trend going, they are almost getting past “the early season conditions” factors up there. Here is more details from James:

“Back on skis today. Headed up Montana Mnt, about 45 min south of Whitehorse toward White Pass and Skagway, Alaska.

It’s been snowing like mad for 4 days straight here in Whitehorse, so decided it was time.

About 25cm of fresh above 1600m and skiable above 2000m.  Still a lot of rock dodging to do but turns on Oct 8 ain’t bad. Heading Haines, AK way tomorrow for another snow hunt.”

South Coast (Oct 8, 2009 – Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish)

On the Coast, we are pretty much… It makes for good fall hiking though with beautiful colours everywhere. Even up at Whistler and Pemberton area it is safe to say that it’s quite impossible to ski, unless you ski “glacier ice”.

Andy says: “It is still summer on the Coast!”

Alex, from Whistler, adds more detail on what is really going on:

“A week and a half ago we got dumped on up high.  Around 10cm of snow, much of which has still stuck around, but nothing even near skiable.

Some friends skied near Squamish yesterday, mostly neve though.

It’s going to be rowdy starting up this year, all of our snowbridges have melted, and crevasses are hungry. Large expanses of ice are now showing, that previously were covered most summers, and the heat also brought massive rockfall.

Early season is going to be tricky.  Hopefully, its deep this year.”