Powder Highway Backcountry Conditions New Year's Update
Holiday Pow
The holidays made for some great skiing in the Powder Highway region. The Kootenays experienced a warming event that deposited a melt freeze crust to approximately 1900m.
This was buried on December 24/25 and is now covered by 30-50 cm of aged snow, facets capped with a melt freeze crust on steep south aspects and surface hoar in sheltered tree line and below tree line areas. More recently, 4-10 cm have buried the January 2 SH/FC/MFcr interface.
Current tree line snowpacks are above average in most places, while lower elevation coverage is still a bit thin:
Mt Fidelity weather station at 1905m
Fish Lake weather station at 1080m
Snowpack Concerns
Storm Slabs As we get new precipitation watch out for storm slabs or wind slabs where there will be a poor bond between the storm snow and the substrate; or where wind has deposited snow into lee features. This will develop into the January 2 Persistent Weak Layer.
Dry Loose As storm snow depths increase watch for sloughing in terrain over 35 degrees. The bond to the old snow will be poor.
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Outlook
Steady snow and a cooling trend. This is the weather pattern we want to see, steady precipitation and falling freezing levels, the Powderhighway is living up to its reputation.
Upcoming Trips
Golden Alpine Holidays Vista Lodge February 5-12, 2027
We’re excited to offer exclusive guided backcountry lodge trips. Backcountry lodge trips are the ultimate backcountry experience!
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