Wet climax slide out of Lakeside traverse a few years ago, hence avalanche closures.

12 People lost their passes last week for one year by not paying attention to the signs. Lakeside is a location where wet climax slides are frequent over the years, and the closure is up for a reason. Its not worth the risk of getting caught in an avalanche or loosing your pass. There are many closures on both mountains, this sign is important, stop and read them. Get to know where they are!!

At 2280 meters the temperature was -3 as of 06:00, winds were 20-35 KPH from the ESE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -1, 100 % relative humidity and the barometer is dropping.
In the valley it is +5. Snow amounts at 08:00. 3 cm fell at 1550 meters

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

A recent avalanche on Everest: Sherpa Injured

As temperatures close to the freezing point of water, or during times of moderate solar radiation, a gentle freeze-thaw cycle will take place. The melting and refreezing of water in the snow strengthens the snow pack during the freezing phase and weakens it during the thawing phase. A rapid rise in temperature, to a point significantly above the freezing point of water, may cause a slope to avalanche, especially in the spring.

Hikers and skinners meet along the way, activity in the back country is growing at a rapid rate! File Photo

At 2280 meters the temperature was -3 as of 06:00, winds were 0-10 KPH from the SSW.
At 1550 meters the temperature was 0, 100% relative humidity and the barometer is on a slight decline.
In the valley it was +5.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

CAC & Simon Fraser University Snowmobile Survey: Mountain Snowmobiling

CAC user survey: User Feedback

News from Avalanche Lab: Update

The Alps are experiencing a heat wave: Austria

Above the cloud layer its a beautiful morning. Check out the web cams.

A 10 cm moist mixture of graupel and plate stellars from Thursday early Friday Morning.  Made for a nice skiing surface first thing Friday morning on the right terrain. The surface was 0 Deg at 10:30 SW aspect.

At 2280 meters the temperature was -5 as of 06:00, winds were 10-30 KPH from the ESE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -2, 99 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +3.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From the Blackcomb ski patrol: Avalanche Signage

Glide: Definition

If you used services from the Canadian Avalanche Centre click here: User Feedback

From the Rockies, Avalanche pictures from the winter : Parks Site

One of many photos you can view from the above link. Up track still evident in debris. Wow!?

Moist (0 Deg) melt freeze grains below 10 cm of the new snow Friday morning.  Isothermal upper snow pack.


Snow on the ground is a dynamic medium. The properties and characteristics of fallen snow change constantly as a function of energy fluxes, wind, moisture, water vapor, and pressure. For example, the time window for good skiing in mid-winter may last several days after a fresh snowfall in cold continental climates. During spring conditions the time window may be only an hour or two as rock-hard boilerplate turns to ideal corn conditions before additional energy inputs turns the snowpack to unskiable slush. Physical properties of snow change over time. Furthermore, snow properties can vary widely over small distances, both vertically within a snowpack and horizontally over space.

From a ski tourer yesterday, Sc size 1 15 cm  easily propagated and wide. Evidence of isolated avalanches to size 2 going on March 27 Th interface.

Mt Currie still has lots of snow for some spectacular spring avalanches!

At 2280 meters the temperature is -6 as of 06:00, winds were 20-35 KPH from the SE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -3, 99 % relative humidity and the barometer is rising.
In the valley it is +2. Will have snow amounts after 08:00. A trace of snow at 1550 over night.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Another paper on Grain Growth Theories: Isothermal Research

From the CAA, wet snow avalanches: Spring Conditions

Na cycle in Blackcomb Bowl yesterday.    Tony Sittlinger Photos

Cornice Control in Blackcomb Bowl

Visibility has been an issue for the past few days. Hopefully the weather will change today!!

At 2280 meters the temperature was -1.5 as of 06:00, winds were 20-40 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was 0, 100 % relative humidity and the barometer is on a slight downward trend. In the valley it is +6. 2 cm recorded at 1550, but 18.5 mil of precipitation fell since yesterday. Around 10 cm of new in the alpine. Wet size 1's at treeline and possibly wet size 2's in the alpine but visibility has been poor.

Today Jamie Selda and I skied from Blackcomb to just above Naden Pass to drop off some groceries. The alpine lifts on Blackcomb were closed due to avalanche hazard brought on my warm temperatures. (Whistler Mountain is now closed for the season) So we started skinning from the bottom of the 7^th Heaven lift, and at tree line the snow was isothermal, deeper then I could easily feel with my hand. Above 1900m there was a thin crust that held the upper pack together well, except on sunlit aspects where I could ski cut small sluffs in steep terrain. This crust held through the day. High clouds and a cooler temps made for idea fast traverse conditions. Recent warm conditions have caused many avalanches off many sunlit features. It started snowing with a strong southerly wind at 6pm. By 8pm, as we left the alpine, there was about 5cm of new snow accumulated on the old surface. Precip was rain below 1700m.     

Dave Sarkany SG From April 25, 2012 ACMG Blog

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Still no body recoveries from Kashmir Avalanche: Still Searching

Snow Pack properties of unstable wet snow slopes: Swiss Research

A wet snow avalanche


If the weather is too warm for too long the weakening of the snow bonds will occur to greater depths. In addition melt water may lubricate buried layers and interfaces which can serve as failure plains. Rain and/or warm winds can also contribute to this process. Crown lines of resulting slides may be quite deep and even go to the ground. These slides are generally unsurvivable. Typically the weather leading up to such an avalanche cycle will be very warm for an extended time (at least a couple days) without any refreezing of the snow pack overnight. Be wary if such a warm spell occurs. These conditions usually lead to numerous large slides, not isolated events. Word generally gets around that such a cycle is underway - check the avalanche advisories.

Cornice control in the past few days, no deep releases.

At 2280 meters the temperature is -2 as of 06:00 hrs, winds were 35-55 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature is 0, 100 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +5. Will have new snow measurement at 08:00. 10-15 cm in the alpine.

The Alpine has been closed for the past 2 days. Fresh snow in the alpine may change things.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Interesting idea about avalanche related work: Integrating at Grouse Mtn

Skier safety act: Wisconsin USA

Simulating isothermal aging of snow: Snow Research

At 1800 meters 20 cm of water saturated grains at the surface. April 24, 2012

From 230 cm down to 170 cm the snow temperature  was 0, from 170 down to 135 it was -.4 did not dig deeper but this was at 1800 meters SW aspect at tree line. 2 crusts are evident in the picture but most of the water from the day before percolated through the crusts.

Some free water has percolated into several crusts in this picture. Darker colour is water that is accumulating on the crusts. Taken at 1800 meters.

At 2280 meters as of 06:00 the temperature was 0, winds were 30-45 KPH from the S.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +4, 81 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it was +6.

For the latest avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Th Effects of free Water on snow gliding: National Research Council

Winter 2011-2012 : US avalanche fatalities

Description of wet snow avalanches: Wet Snow

Flow characteristics of avalanches: Wet & Dry Flow

May still get some good conditions by the end of the week

Rained hard most of the night, snow is certainly getting saturated.

At 2280 meters the temperature was +1 as of 06:00, winds were 30-30 KPH from the ESE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +4, 95 % relative humidity and the barometer is falling.
In the valley it is +6.

Natural size 1-2 wet slides reported yesterday. Blackcomb Alpine closed today due to avalanche conditions.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Avalanche in The Himalayas: Gulmarg

Wet snow avalanche: Wet Snow Avalanche Japan

Snow will be melting very quickly with the present and forecasted temperatures.

The skunk cabbage will be thriving in this weather.

And the Golden eye ducks are not complaining.

East facing slopes on the Tantalus Range released yesterday morning , as did other slopes in the corridor.

The traverse into the back country on Spearhead flank was very busy yesterday morning!

At 2280 meters the temperature was +1 as of 06:00, winds were 30-50 KPH from the SE by S.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +4, 88% relative humidity and the barometer is dropping.
In the valley it is +4. A trace of wet snow was observed at 1550 meters.

The snow pack will certainly begin to transform with the temperatures and expected precipitation.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Wet avalanche comes with in 1 meter : Very Close

Steep lines in Alaska: Spine/Sluff Management

Crystal in the surface layer of a melting snow pack with much free water evident.

To check out a research paper on water percolating into a deep snow pack : Mt Seymour

The 20 cm from Thursday night produced size 1-2 slabs on specific terrain features. If you were up early the skiing was good in areas before the sun got at it.

At 2280 meters as of 06:00 the temperature was -8, the air was dead calm.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -5, 89 % relative humidity and the barometer is on a slight decline.
In the valley it is -2.


For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

I have seen this done in the sand, cool patterns in the snow: Snow Art

From a blog "Avalanche Updates" : Avalanches & Legal Ramifications

There were many wet snow avalanches yesterday and would have been more if the clouds had not come into the picture. There were several Sa.

A gathering of Chips family and friends to put his ashes to rest.

Fresh snow in the trees and 20 cm of new reported at pig alley. Already +2 in the valley so the sun will be  melting the valley snow quickly.


At 2280 meters the temperature as of 06:00 was -7, winds were 40-50 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -3.5, 93 % relative humidity and the barometer is rising.
20 cm fell there last night and 20 cm fell at pig alley.
In the valley it is +2.
Solar aspects will warm up quickly today and expect size 2 natural avalanches.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

An update on the avalanche in Kashmir: Siachen Glacier

Tips for snowmobiler's from the US Forest Service National Avalanche Centre: Stay Safe

Europe recieving record snow fall as well: Still Snowing



Grade 6&7 students from Mirelle Turcotte's class spent Wednesday April 18 on Blackcomb learning about Avalanche Safety. Thank you to Dan Davis, Jerome David, and Neil Proctor for giving your time toward a necessary  educational experience that all the students in our valley should be receiving. A special thanks to Mirelle for making it happen.

There is a chance that Saturday could be a nice day?


At 2280 meters the temperature was - 8 as of 06:00, winds were 10-25 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -4, 98 % relative humidity and the barometer is on the decline.
In the Valley it is +1. No new snow recorded over night, 5 cm fell yesterday.
Max temperature at 1550 meters was + 2.3 as of 15:00 hrs yesterday.


For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From Utah a clip on backcountry safety: Touring Safely

Missed this one back in February, from Japan: Hot Springs Avalanche

Interview with survivor of Washington State Avalanche February 19, 2012: Elyse Saugstad

The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground: How to identify and record snow

[MCR] Spearhead and Mystery Creek

Yesterday was a true winter day, cold and eventually it started to snow. The surface was much nicer than Monday.

As 0f 06:00 hrs the temperature was - 6 at 2280 meters, the winds were 30-45 KPH from the ESE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -4, 97% relative humidity and the barometer was dropping..
In the valley it is +1. Pig Alley had 2 cm recorded at 05:30, and catskinner  had 3 cm as of 06:15.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Where will beacons go in the future: New Technology

Thought of this a few years ago but after talking to some engineers it was too expensive and at the time not possible with the size it would have to be. There is a prize of $10,000,000.00 for the first group to build a hand held medical scanner capable of analyzing 25 human functions. Perhaps if this is accomplished it will be easy to manufacture a device like the one mentioned in the article.

Clip on mountain flying in helicopters: Heli Ski Pilots


Report on the ACMG blog on the area:

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

[MCR] Spearhead and Mystery Creek

I spent the weekend in the Mystery Creek area and also skied out to Tremor Mt today. On both trips  I found good skiing on N slopes above 2100m. A few cm of new snow is now on top of a faceting old wind slab. South aspects have a solid crust and ski crampons are useful. Today I found the the Alpine Hazard was Moderate. Some thin wind slabs have accumulated in the alpine. Cornices are big but the colder temperatures kept everything solid.

From a distance I saw the most interesting looking glide crack near the top of Decker Mt NE Side.  It is just N of the heli ski stakes. At the top of the Decker heliski run. There is a shrund there most summers. Be careful if you ski that line!

Dave Sarkany

DSK Guiding

Not a very comfortable looking chair!

Green lake was thawing quickly, but the weather has slowed the process down.  

Collecting data in the field on your I Pad is a breakthrough in Information Exchange!

Using the App Avalanche Lab is a way to electronically take Avalanche Observations and share them quickly through the Web. Waterproof cases can be used even when it is wet.







Apple does have some concerns with operating in the outdoor environment :

Environmental Requirements	Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C) Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

I have used mine and my phone in much colder temperatures. So far no problems!

At 2280 meters the temperature is -9 as of 06:00 Hrs, winds were 5-15 KPH from the ESE.
At 1550 meters the temperature is -4, 76% relative humidity and the barometer is rising slightly.
We received 1.5 mil of rain which washed away the 2 cm of snow on the boards at Catskinner.
In the valley it is 0. Max temp at 1550 meters yesterday at 15:30 was +3.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

The Canadian Avalanche Association is having a CPD Seminar on May 2, 2012 on the technology available to Avalanche Professionals which should allow collection and sharing of information much faster.

From the Pencil to the iPad - Emerging Information Technology for Field Work
CAA's Continuing Professional Development Day
May 2, Penticton Convention Centre
A host of information technologies are available to avalanche professionals today. With new choices rapidly appearing come new complexities. Where does hard-earned wisdom and experience fit in this high-tech world? 

Seminar speakers and topics include:
• Bruce Tremper, Director of Utah Avalanche Center - Crowd-sourcing for avalanche forecasts
• Jesse Crocker - Avalanche Lab application creator
• Rob Whelan - Streaming video and images from remote locations
• Bruce Jamieson & Cora Shea – Remote 2-way satellite messaging and data transfer
• Panel Discussion - “The Human App”: the limits of high-tech in the field
• TecTerra - Geomatics in avalanche forecasting

CPD Tickets are available by calling the CAA 250-837-2435 ext 240:
CAA Members: $80 plus tax includes lunch if purchased by April 24th
Non CAA Members: $160 plus tax includes lunch if purchased by April 24th
Tickets will be available at the door at the same prices as above, but will not include lunch.

CAA summary from April 4-11, 2012 : Weekly Summary

Some in depth information on snow crystals: Snow Crystals

Tutorial on Avalanche Safety from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Training: AIARE

Interesting comments on Taylor Mtn avalanche this winter: Ski Cutting

Yesterday was possibly the worst sliding day of the whole season, thats pretty impressive considering we are half way through April!!

Another nice day yesterday until the next weather system decided to move in.

Back to winter conditions in the Alpine this week with a few breaks, warmer tomorrow but cooler as the week progresses. This week will not be a repeat of last week. 


I know I have been talking about spring conditions but the snow pack has not yet gone isothermal in the alpine. 


Spring Hazards
Full spring conditions typically consist of an isothermal snowpack - One which is at 0 Deg C throughout. The surface will refreeze overnight, and as it softens in the sun good "corn" snow makes great skiing. The hazard tends to follow a daily cycle of low in the morning and moderate in the afternoon. After softening too much wet slides can release, often starting as point releases and growing. A good rule of thumb is to head home when you start to sink to your boot tops.
Another hazard to keep in mind is that before softening up the snow can be icy and a fall can be dangerous.
Large wet slides can be a hazard in the early spring, typically for a period of a few days when the snowpack first becomes isothermal. One reason for this is that free water can be introduced to snowpack too quickly if rapid warming occurs, especially if refreezing overnight does not occur. Initially this free water can flow along and lubricate buried bed surfaces, leading to wet slab releases. The effect of free water in the snowpack can be very difficult to predict. Ultimately, the free water and the melt-freeze process will hinder fracture propagation and break down the layering in the snowpack. After isothermal conditions prevail for a while the hazard of wet slabs becomes small.

At 2280 meters as of 06:00 the temperature was -5, winds were 15-30 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -2, 98% relative humidity and the barometer is falling.
1 cm of snow fell there last night by 06:00.
It is +3 in the valley.

The snow will continue through the day and winds should pick up in the alpine.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Update on Avalanche in Kashmir Area: Siachen Glacier

North Face helping educate: Know Boundaries

Snow Bridge collapse: Valle Blanche

Avalanche Awareness and Mountain Snowmobiling survey: Great Prize for completing

The ice is almost gone off Alta Lake. The warm valley temperatures in the past few days melted a lot of snow and ice.

April 15 Th 2012,  north facing slope at 2260 meters below cornice at 09:30 hrs. Depending on how the new snow arrives there will be isolated pillows of snow that will likely be easily triggered on this surface hoar.

The spring skiing has been very good, moving around to different elevations and aspects is key!!

As of 06:00 the temperature at 2280 meters was -6, winds were 10-15 KPH from the S.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -2.5, 77% relative humidity and the barometer is rising.
In the valley it is -1.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory


In the past 2 years in the States skiers are becoming the #1 statistic: US Avalanche Statistics

What does fresh tracks skiing cost: Interesting Comparison

Older footage but cool narration: In your backyard

Poor footage but an amazing slab release: Large Slab

From E Chapelle's work in 1960: Heat and vapour transfer in snow.

The flow of heat through snow is a complex process. Snow, particularly at low densities, is a good thermal insulator. Like other insulating materials, it transfers heat by a combination of molecular conduction through the solid framework, by conduction, diffusion and convection of the entrapped air, and by internal radiation exchange. Unlike other insulators, it also transfers heat by sublimation of the solids--in this case ice--and associated diffusion and convection of the vapor phase. The latent heat of sublimation of ice is high, 680 calories per gram at the freezing point; consequently water vapor can be an efficient means of heat transport within snow which introduces complicating factors in the bulk thermal conductivity. Owing to this contribution of water vapor to heat flow, the bulk, conductivity becomes dependent on absolute temperature as will be demonstrated below, Moreover, recrystallization of ice which has passed through the vapor stage rearranges the solid framework and effects a permanent time- dependent change of conductivity, In addition-to thermal effects, this latter change also profoundly alters the mechanical properties of snow: the stabilizing and strengthening effects of destructive crystal metamorphism are reversed and the snow becomes mechanically weaker.

Temperatures have kept the snow firm in the morning. When it does soften up and your timing is good the spring skiing is excellent. Good corn to be had in the back country as well.

There is a big increase in the amount of snowmobiles in the back country.

At 2280 meters the temperature is - 6 as of 06:00. Winds were 5-15 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature is -2, 88% relative humidity and the barometer is on the rise.
In the valley it is -1.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

A definition of high marking: Useful Tips

Another perspective on snowmobiling: Many Opinions

Snowmoiling safety tips: Good Information

When things go wrong: Avalanches are not the only hazard

Cool trick: How do you ride



Wet snow avalanche definition

A wet slab avalanche is the slowest moving type of avalance, but can still be extremely dangerous and leave unbelievable destruction behind.

Air and ground temperature, the steepness of the landscape, the type of snow or precipitation falling, and how the snow or precipitation settles on the ground are all factors that determine what type of avalanche can occur.

Wet slab avalanches often happen in the springtime when the air temperature starts to rise and more rain than snow falls changing the overall composition of the snow.

The biggest contributor to the creation of a wet slab avalanche is water. Skiers should be aware as spring approaches and the days begin to get warmer, a perfect scenario for a wet slab avalanche could be in the making. Although slow moving, this type of natural disaster can be very damaging.

The wet, heavy, often rain soaked snow has the power to move boulders, trees, mud, and anything else it its path. When the moving mass finally reaches its destination, it often looks as though it has transformed into a wall of dirt and debris.

Some of the jumps being built are huge.

Mt Fee