Selkirk Mountain Experience

Snow Report 2010: Durrand Glacier Chalet

Date: April 19, 2010

Durrand Glacier Chalet - 6,384 ft / 1,946 m elevation
Height of snow: Tree Line 1946 m elevation: 360cm
Alpine 2400 m elevation: 550cm to 650cm, depending on aspect and exposure
Ski-penetration: Tree Line and Below Tree Line 5 cm / Alpine 10 cm to 15cm
Temperatures: +3.0° C to -8° C
General skiing conditions
of past week:
The famous mid April ski-week. The snow-stability was solid, the powder in northerly aspects incredible and the ski-lines breathtaking. This week has in the 25 year history of SME never failed, we have been able to exceed all expectations.
Snow Forecast
Durrand Glacier:
Sun for most of the week.

Skied Runs:
Saturday: Group A: Mt.Ruth - Ruth Glacier - Ruth Col - Diamond Peak - Diamond Face - Needle Ice Fall - Carnes Creek (alpine)
Group B: Woolsey West - Boogie Basin - Woolsey Peak main summit - Upper Durrand Bowl - Moon Hill - Durrand Bowl (alpine)
Conditions: Mid winter temperatures, amazing powder-snow and lots of face-shots
Sunday: Group A: Ledges - Symphony Peak - Centrale Glacier East Line - Snow Cap - Durrand Glacier - Allalin Peak - Allalin Glacier - The Ramp (alpine)
Group B: Ledges - Allalin Peak - Allalin Glacier - The Ramp (alpine)
Conditions: Incredible weather and powder-snow
Monday: Group A: Needle Ice Fall - Tumbledown Mountain - Tumbledown Glacier via North Cleaver (1000 vertical meter run)- Tumbledown Mountain - Tumbledown East Slopes - Needle Ice Fall - Carnes Creek (alpine)
Conditions: Blue sky and amazing powder-snow
Tuesday: Group A: Diamond Face - Mt.Ruth South Ridge - Mt.Ruth - Ruth Glacier (1050 vertical meter run) - Meeting of Glaciers - Dismal Glacier - Empress Shoulder - Princess Pride - Dismal Glacier - Mt.Moloch Chalet (alpine)
Conditions: Incredible weather, amazing powder
Wednesday: Group A: Mt.Graham - Tangier Glacier via Graham Glacier (1000 vertical meter run) - Zwilling's East - Zwilling's Glacier - Sentinel South - Sentinel Face (alpine)
Conditions: Blue sky and great powder
Thursday: Group A: Juliana Glacier - Mt.Fang - Juliana North Face - Dismal Glacier - Mt.Fang - Concordia Ice Fall via Wolverine Direct - Mt. Fang - Eagle Ice Fall - Carnes Creek (alpine)
Conditions: Blue sky, amazing powder and super steep and huge alpine terrain
Friday: Group A: Durrand Glacier - Mt.Durrand - Mt.Durrand North Face - North Face Glacier - Forbidden Peak - Forbidden Glacier - Durrand Glacier - Carnes Creek (alpine)
Conditions: Again an incredible alpine day with an endless blue sky and super skiing

Comments:

Dear Ski Friends,

April always delivers what it promises every single year. In the 25 years guiding at Durrand Glacier I have never seen the conditions fail. This is when we ski the steep alpine slopes and enjoy stable powder conditions. Sometimes it feels as if I live and guide all winter so I get to enjoy the true skiing in April sun, super powder and huge terrain... how much more do we want...

Availability at Durrand Glacier:
Hope we get to ski with you in the winter of 2010/11, either here in Canada or in the European Alps.

Availability European Alps:
West Alp's Haute Route, the world's most famous ski-tour
The Silvretta Area, border in between Austria and Switzerland
Monte Rosa - Mont Blanc, ski the roof of the Alps

Spring Ski-Traverses West Canada:
Northern Selkirk Ski-Traverse, Tangier Pass - Mt.Holway - Mt.Sisson - Mt. Baal - Durrand Glacier

Ruedi Beglinger
Durrand Glacier Chalet, week of April 19, 2010
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