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LIABILITY WAIVER
This mountain conditions advisory is provided as a public service by Aspiring Guides Ltd. It is intended as an advisory only. Those endeavouring to travel into any of the areas mentioned do so at their own risk. Backcountry travellers should be well informed about current weather, snowpack and avalanche hazards and should not travel alone. All members of your party should wear a transceiver (457khz) and know how to use it. In addition everyone should carry a shovel, and a probe. Travellers should advise someone where they are travelling, and when they will next make contact. |
Topic: Pisa Range - 26 Sept 2011
Comment: Excellent spring ski touring, with 5cm new snow on Saturday night. Still plenty of snow starting from gully descent from car park. Cliff Burn and Prince Burn still skiable down to bottom. Due to cold snap no problem with wet slide danger. Worth chasing the sun though because it was icy on shady slopes.
Entered by: Thomas
Topic: Pisa Range 16-18 August 2011
Comment: Good snow fall with cold temperatures on 15 and 16 August provided a much needed cover and the range looks very white with some good runs to be had. However, due to the high winds a lot of the fresh snow has been packed into NW pockets, with areas of large windpacked sastrugi in some places. Fresh snow quality is better and more even in lower areas of valleys (Cliff Burn). Snow stability GOOD.
Entered by: Thomas
Topic: Pisa Range 10-14 August 2011
Comment: Backcountry awareness course 5-8 August. Finally some new snow on 6 & 7 August, very windy from W on Sat and S on Sunday means: Eastern slopes and some Northern slopes loaded with windpacked powder. Great fun to ski, but we did see a couple of new size 1 hard slabs, along the E facing cliffs above Prince Burn. Previous cold conditions produced a layer of surface facets now buried under the new snow. Northern slopes spring conditions with ice softening mid morning, becoming breakable crust in the afternoon before freezing again late afternoon.
Plenty of snow up high, Western aspects though have little left from wind and sun erosion.
Entered by: Thomas
Topic: Pisa Range 16-18 July
Comment: Lots of wind from the SW quarter. large wind pillows are evident on leeside ridgelines, some slumps are visable, but very little has moved.
The snow is pretty messed up up high but good skiing can be found on most aspects if you pick around. Lower elevations are better for snow quality.
The Cromwell basins have been wind stripped.
The general hazard is low.
Entered by: Phil
Topic: Pisa Range 10-14 July 2011
Comment: Deep snow everywhere. 40 - 200cm Wind Slab and Cornices lee to the westerly Quarter Multiple shear plains CTM with sudden planar results especially at 60cm.
Watch out for the little steep slopes up there above creeks and other terrain traps like roads.
There is a supportive layer at about 15-20cm that allows good powder skiing on most aspects.
Very little exposed tussock.
Stefan |
