Snow Creek conditions Feb 2022

[mtngoatmanley]

Hoping to climb and ride Snow Creek mid March if the snow holds. Anyone planning on heading up there before that? I’d love to get a report on conditions if possible. Thanks!!

[Perry]

Great to see you on here. Small world. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to your question but imagine this year the snow does not cover the chockstone. There's a scramble around, lower down and to the right. At the summit, most people veer left or right. When I did it in 2008, the lower snow was slushy, and the upper snow was deep powder. We had seen evidence of wet slides. Near the top we had to pull out of the chute and grab tree branches. Felt like swimming uphill.

[Dunning Kruger]

A shot of the summit from near the chockstone- taken February 21st. Possibly an additional 12"-17" of snow fell at the summit the day after this picture was taken.

[cm20]

From what I saw today, the snow line looks to be around maybe 6,300? Give or take maybe 100 feet I couldn’t tell very well. Hopefully this next storm stays cold and drops it down closer to the chockstone. I’ll be planning on a mid March ascent, so if you do go up post some conditions back here for me

[mtngoatmanley]

Hey Perry! Glad to see you runnin the show! Thanks for all the replies so far! I have another pic taken recently and I think it confirms around that 6300 mark. News said today they’re expecting another 8 inches at the top this weekend (down to 5500). So possibly some could avi down to the chock stone by mid March when I’m thinking about going. If it looks good and I pull the trigger, I’ll def post the outcome. I’ve never climbed the couloir from the bottom but I’ve ridden it 3 times from the top so this would be a first full ascent/descent that I’ve done. I can’t find any reports of anyone going all the way up and down in a single push. If anyone knows of any, could you direct me to a trip report? I’d love to see it! You only get a chance like this about every 5 years, so gotta take it when it’s there…if it’s there!

[Perry]

That's double the bushwhacking, and with skis or snowboard. Not sure when you did it before, but the DWA put up cameras and motion sensors, so people have to go around now.

[mtngoatmanley]

But Perry, I thought bushwhacking was the best part….

[Dunning Kruger]

The fire has the traverse above snow Creek from falls Creek open with minimal bushwhacking.

[mtngoatmanley]

I knew that last burn took care of some of that but it’s great to see a pic! Thanks!

[cm20]

Climbed yesterday. Snow wasn’t very good, encountered every snow condition minus blue ice and nothing was consistent. At the top it was pretty soft and powdery and the winds were probably gusting at 50mph, causing spindrift which felt like sandpaper. Luckily wind was going up the couloir, rather than down. Towards the bottom there was definitely some mixed climbing to be had, the Folly Falls bypass was sketchay af in crampons. The approach into Snow Creek was fine, it was all burnt out and well marked