We did not make the summit of Mt Field, but we found such exquisite powder snow that I'm sure no-one really cared. About 1 foot or 30cms of new white stuff made for some of the best powder skiing that I've enjoyed for some time.

With a few cms of new snow overnight and temperatures around -3c and cloudy, the #1 west was slick at 6.30am. The resulting slow drive meant we started from the parking area a few kms east of Field at 9.15am, but in pleasant sunshine and -10c temperatures. We stopped an hour or so and 4.5km later above the switchbacks to study the route up the main NE face of Mt Field.

Mt Field approach road

It was considerably warmer in the sunshine and there was a good broken trail. This proved to be very useful as we progressed upward though scattered trees in 25cm of new snow.


Celine and John on the way up

After another brief stop by a drainage we decided to continue to treeline for lunch at 1.00pm. Soon after we were joined by another younger group who informed us that our 9th member had decided to wait lower down. After some discussion his 2 car mates decided to join him while the remaining 6 followed the youngsters towards the summit. Here the route enters a huge bowl which steepens near the summit ridge. When the others stopped about 300 metres short of the summit, we decided likewise. Our trail breakers were gone, it was after 2.00pm, and critically the avalanche potential on the steeper slopes above felt real (there were some visible sluffs). Apparently the angle reaches 35 degrees. Karl Klassen’s Feb 19 CAA blog on “The Tipping Point” had also been noted. Also the snow looked superb for turns and one senior rambler in particular was chomping at the bit to get first lines.

Lunch time on Mt Field

Mt Field about 300 metres below the summit

Upper slopes of Mt Field

He needn’t have worried for there was plenty of beautiful fresh soft powder for all. It really was fantastic needing 20 degree or more even to get going. As you picked up speed the new powder would spray to waist and even chest level. We dropped about 400 metres before regrouping and deciding on another run. Near here we met the “car trio”, 2 of whom joined us while the 3rd relaxed. At the end of our 2nd run we all regrouped and weaved through the scattered trees to the Takakkaw road by 4.30pm. 4.5 km of road plod later we were at the cars around 5.30pm for the drive home, now on good roads. It was about -3c.

Participants included: John, Sim, Celine, Lisa, Bill, Manfred, John and Doug, with a special thanks to Celine and Lisa who returned to keep their driver company. C&S David.