14 Jan 2012

Toby Tortorelli Photo
Thank you Toby for submitting this great picture, the slab on Mt Cayley looks like it has gone down to the mid October crust which was shown in my very first post. This is an East aspect and Toby estimated it to be 6-7 meters deep at the highest part of the crown. Everyone should take note that this persistent weak layer (PWL) was also mentioned in yesterdays post from the Toba Inlet. Most avalanche technicians are referring this deep layer as the October 31 crust but in fact the mid October crust is likely the culprit.
Jeff is holding the crust formed on October 31 in his hand, it was 20 cm below the surface. This pit was dug on November 3, 2011.
The mid October crust is where Jeff's hand is, it was 15 cm thick and supported on basal facets.
At 06:00 today the temperature at 2280 meters was -11 with southerly winds 55-65 KPH. At 1650 meters, pig alley 8 cm of new snow was recorded. At 1550 meters the temperature was -6 and the barometer is on the decline.. In the valley it is -2.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

An email from one of the Whistler SAR members:

Hey Wango

In Juneau if you poach a sign line and get caught its 30 days in Jail and a $500 fine. Maybe we need to get the cops up there for a sting operation. Just finished watching them shoot the Thane paths with the howitzer got a nice big size 3 out of one of them. Anyway got some good pics. I'll forward a article that's a interesting read too.

Happy New year
Braden

Article in the Question in regards to the incident mentioned on the January 10,2012 post:

One skier suffered a knee injury after an in-bounds avalanche on Monday (Jan. 9) in the Glacier Bowl on Whistler Mountain. According to a statement issued by Whistler Blackcomb (WB), seven skiers and/or snowboarders were involved in the incident. Only the one knee injury was reported. The Size 2 slide was triggered by a skier on the run called The Cirque and occurred at about 12:41 p.m. Monday, the statement said. That area of Whistler is accessed by the Peak Chair. “Whistler Mountain Ski Patrol responded immediately with an avalanche rescue dog team and patrol staff to sweep the area, ensuring no one else was involved,” the statement said. The injured skier was planning to ski out after the slide, but members of ski patrol recommended that he attend the Whistler Health Care Centre for treatment, a WB spokesperson told The Question on Wednesday (Jan. 11). WB officials continue to be in contact with the skier to determine the extent of his injuries. Avalanche assessment and control was done in the Glacier Bowl area the morning of the slide before the alpine was opened, the statement said. “Safety is of the utmost importance at Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Blackcomb Patrol team works diligently to provide the safest possible mountain experience,” the statement said. According to the Canadian Avalanche Association, a Size 2 slide has the potential to “bury, injure or kill a person.” A typical mass is 100 tonnes with a slide length of 100 metres.