At 2280 meters the temperature was 0 as of 06:00, winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +2, 50 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is -1.
For the Updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory
An emergency medicine blog, factors that determine survival : Scandinavia
Avalanche in Tibet: Caught in a canyon
South of the border: Mt St Helenes
Avalanches from the past:
Lahaul Valley, India (1979, early March)
Five days of snowstorms creates deep drifts over the Himalayan foothills in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. A series of avalanches bury the valley beneath 15 to 20 feet of snow. About 200 people are estimated dead.
From the ACMG blog:
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Spearhead, coast range
I Did The Spearhead Traverse today from Blackcomb lifts with a singing pass trail exit. Seems like today was the day for it.
- Overnight recovery of the surface snow with –7 morning air temperatures.
- Cloud increased through the day with some afternoon flurries.
- Down hill skiing was fast on a supportive surface.
- Uphill track-setting was challenging, even with ski crampons. Hard on the feet.
- Dust on crust high up on a few glaciers only.
- Evidence of wet loose avalanches to size 2.5 on many solar aspects. Several days old.
- Some steep east aspects moist at mid day. By mid afternoon refrozen as the weather changed.
- Freezing level stayed below tree-line at approx. 1600 meters all day.
- Tomorrow, Friday is the start of high freezing levels. Right to ridge top.
- The crust won't hang on as long.
- Early starts are key, aspect is very important as the sun moves around through the day.
- Singing pass trail was very fast and icy in the upper half. Slow and wet through the bottom third. The snow disappeared 1 km from the end. Walking from there was pretty straightforward.
Chris Lawrence
ACMG Mountain Guide IFMGA
CAA Professional member
ACMG Mountain Guide IFMGA
CAA Professional member
