About West Purcell

This page shows the current backcountry snow report, avalanche forecast, and weather conditions for West Purcell. Check the danger rating, field observations, and Doctor's Orders summary above before heading out.

The McMurdo zone rises from sparse treeline benches into broad subalpine meadows before opening quickly into wide, planar alpine basins. Most skiing happens on 25–35° rolls and ramps that form long, connected sequences of NE–SE-facing slopes, with steeper 35–40° headwalls and ridge-adjacent pitches near the higher peaks. The alpine is expansive but wind-affected, with frequent cornices along the main ridgelines and cross-loading on leeward north and east aspects. Subtle gullies, convex rolls, and occasional glacial undulations add moderate terrain complexity without the tight confinement typical of steeper Purcell zones. Overall, it’s an area defined by big, open alpine bowls and gentle glacial benches that reward clear route-finding in variable wind and visibility conditions.

Terrain within this zone includes: McMurdo, Spillimacheen, Brisco, Bugaboos, Columbia River, Purcell Mountains.