Kananaskis Trip Report: March. 15 2010

Well, two weeks have totally changed the game in K-Country for backcountry users. While many were pushing into steep, exposed terrain during the long dry spell we had through February, we've now returned to an extremely volatile snowpack.

Case and point - when I was out with four other skiers on Sunday, we found ourselves staring a size three slide in the face. Its speed in the alpine was enough to carry through the trees that we were skinning through and seriously shake us up, partially burying one of our group. This slide stormed through an established skin track route that I've used many times before. It certainly spooked us and has kept me humbled in the days after my first up close experience with a slide.

Buried surface hoar, wind slab and warm sunny weather have set a dangerous trap for backcountry users in Kananaskis right now. K-Country forecasters are advising skiers to stick to low-angle, low-elevation, tree'd terrain but personally, I'll be kicking the soccer ball around in 19 degree Calgary until conditions settle down.