Cornice releases on Flute.

First Avalanche Fatality in South America for the 2012-2013 season: Peru

From the US, 4 people caught in an Avalanche: Bozeman MT.

From New Zealand, great start to the season: Lots of snow

Lots of surface sloughing with the new snow that fell in the alpine.

This is a climbing clip but it has a great feel, there is one avalanche in it: Shattered

According to snowforecast.com some of the mountains in South America are about to get dumped on.

Some parts of New Zealand have had significant snow amounts already.

The avalanche season in the southern hemisphere is just starting. 

One of the many new yearlings in the valley.       Kary Firstbook Photo

The alpine was looking very white yesterday. -2 in the alpine this morning.

From Arthurs Pass in New Zealand: Early Dump

From Doglotion: Train Faceshots

One of the many local beavers, seems to be enjoying the wet weather.        Kary Firstbook Picture

Update from Avalanche in China: 10 People Killed

Avalanche Researchers used in studying ice cream: Tastier Ice Cream

Snowed in the alpine, -4 at 2260 meters this morning. Next week looks like a more favourable weather pattern. 

Two male bears having a stand off, lots of bear sightings in the valley! Kary Firstbook Photo

Will be posting information on wildlife and hiking trails as the summer progresses. Not going to post every day.


Update on Avalanche in China: Prospectors Buried

Form the NorthWest Weather and Avalanche Centre: Conditions south of the boarder

Photo from June 10, 2008. Still no big results around like this.

Avalanche in China: 3 dead, 7 missing

Deep Slab Avalanches What Where When Why: Mike Conlan

Still avalanche reports in Switzerland: Swiss Avalanche Advisory

The weather has been quite cold and snow is coming to the alpine again. 

Barely see the Tantalus Range yesterday!!

Siachen Glacier update: Majors Body Recovered

From Montana: Going to the sun road

Air bag reviews: From Biglines

From the International Snowmobile Manufactures Association: Avalanche Safety

From one of the regular readers of the blog:

Debris field

The chopper comes alone from grey skies above

Rays of the sun have us thinking “a dove”

Our ears are attuned to nothing but silence,

Sound is all gone from the noise of the violence

The Mountain stands vacant from the souls who first came

The sudden attack for which nature takes claim

A strewn lays the rubble which covers all tracks

Except for the remnants of somebody’s pack

Shoulder to shoulder a line now appears

Probing the depths for those who are here

No sounds come from friends who are buried below

Only our shadows that came for the show

Back-breaking work as the minutes toil on

Digging and praying that hope is not gone

For some to be saved and some to be lost

Is the reality that’s paid for at such a great cost

At the end of the day we take stock of what’s learned

From the lines that were skied and fatally earned.

Spent the day yesterday at the J 24 Canadian Championship Regatta, no avalanche activity in the area.


Arc'teryx is developing a new air bag, perhaps one day they will be built into a jacket, go to this site to see what one person has dreamed up: Jacket

From Wild Snow, Avalanche Airbag Backpack review: Air Bag Review

Avalanche safety issues discussed in this post. 

One week and the white ribbon was no where to be seen!

From Charcoal Frost Ltd. an app for $9.99: SnoWhere

Not sure where all these ideas are coming from, I  posted on May 25 Th and May 26 Th articles on the SnowBe, which had an article written about it in the May 31, 2012 edition of the Pique. Another bad idea!!

Until the I phone can be used as a device to transmit and receive sound waves which can penetrate the snow and give a persons buried position accuratley we should all stick with the devices which can save our lives. The technology is a long way from where it has to be to make such a device. It probably will happen in our lifetime but not reality yet!

Comments on the SnoWhere App from Jonathan Shefftz's blog: Avyupdates

From Switzerland, Avalanche accidents from 1977-2006: Trends

There are not many snowmobiles in Switzerland. 

Thanks to Amanda Taylor for submitting these photos up in the Birkenhead Area. Photos taken last week.

From the Utah Avalanche Centre, education: Know before you go

South American beacon project also about educating: Beacon Project

New presenting partner for the CAC: The Association of BC Snowmobile Clubs

Another decision in Vail regarding an avalanche death this past winter: Vail

At 1000 meters the snow is all but gone! Amazing at how quickly it melted. In the alpine the snow pack is also diminishing.

A video from Gaper day:  From Unofficial

South American Beacon Project: Sending Beacons

Avalanche Research:

Pigs Buried Alive for Avalanche Research! 
EcoWorldly January 17th, 2010

In order to save human lives and study the effects of being buried in avalanches, researchers buried live pigs in snow while monitoring them as they died. The research was conducted in order to better understand the effects of oxygen deprivation from being buried in the snow as well as study the timescale of death. A total of 29 pigs were part of the two-week study.

Earlier this week, an international group of scientists sedated the animals and then buried them under the snow in the Tyrol region of the Austrian Alps. Some of the pigs were completely buried and suffocated. Other pigs, covered up to their necks, reportedly froze to death.

Scientists from Austria’s Medical University of Innsbruck and Italy’s Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, conducted the controversial avalanche research. Those involved in the study defended their research saying the animals did not experience any unnecessary suffering because they were sedated and given an anesthetic prior to burial. Dr. Hermann Brugger, co-director of the study, told the Associated Press, “We want to save lives, that’s the only goal of this study.”

According to a statement posted on the Medical University’s website on January 15th, since testing can not be conducted on people and because no virtual testbed to stimulate avalanche survival conditions exists, there is no “alternative to animal experiments.”

The Austrian Association of Animal Protection said, “The scientists should bury themselves, and their colleagues can analyze the results.” Following a public outcry, protests from animal rights groups and intense media coverage, the “barbaric” research has been stopped – temporarily.

Snow creep on a low angle slope below the 4-5 road on Blackcomb.

Using a receiver hanging from a helicopter for searching: Utah

Avalanche Beacon reviews from Outdoor gear lab: Avalanche Beacon Reviews

Older story but still interesting:

Czech to pay for causing avalanche in Austria

05.03.2009, 07:57

Prague - A Czech skier is to be fined the equivalent of 280,000 crowns for having set into motion an avalanche in Austria, according to the daily Lidove noviny (LN).

On Saturday, he was skiing near the resort Kitzsteinhorn in the area with avalanche danger, thus contributing to the avalanche being set into motion, LN writes. No accident happened, but rescuers will fine the Czech skiing instructor for the costs incurred when they were checking whether anyone stayed under the avalanche.

On the basis of a special decree, the officials can exact the costs of the emergency intervention from the people who were not disciplined. "For this, we need no lengthy court trial," Kurt Reiter, emergency official in Zell am See, told the paper Der Standard.

The Czech skiing instructor, who lives in Kaprun during the winter, was moving in the area denoted by signs banning access to the area over avalanche danger.

The avalanche buried to the chest a German tourist, but he was not injured.

Using sniffer dogs and special equipment as well as a helicopter, the mountain service staff had to check whether anyone stayed under the avalanche, LN writes.

The Czech skier was not alone in the terrain, but unlike the rest, he did not escape from the scene and was helping the rescuers, LN writes.

"Naturally, these are mitigating circumstances," Reiter said, adding that there was a search for other culprits.

($1 = 22.076 crowns)

Yes, more fresh snow yesterday morning.

For a cool blog written by Alex Wigley: Skitheory

Yes even Santa Clause was enjoying the snow shower yesterday afternoon.

The mountain is now officially closed for the 2011-2012 winter season. Still some good skiing to be had yesterday but the day was all about the costumes and antics on the hill. 

The past few days have been spectacular, 17.5 degrees in Whistler yesterday.

At 2280 meters the temperature as of 06:00 hrs was -1, winds were 5-10 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +1.7, 99% relative humidity and the barometer is dropping.
In the valley it is +9.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

News from the Siachen Glacier disaster: Kashmir

Crowd sourcing avalanche information in Europe: Geo Avalanche

Finnish skier falls 2000 feet on McKinley: Orient Express

International Snow Science Workshop is in Alaska this September: ISSW

This will be the last day of regular updates. During the summer I will post some avalanche information with regards to the southern hemisphere, hiking trail updates around here and some local flora & fauna information.

Hope everyone enjoyed the blog this winter, any comments would be appreciated before the 2012-2013 winter season. 

Mt Garibaldi view from the estuary in Squamish. Only 2 more lift access days left.

At 2280 meters the temperature was +1, winds were 10-15 KPH from the S as 0f 06:00.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +4, 62% relative humidity and the barometer is rising.
In the valley the temperature was +7.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From the mountain Safety Council in New Zealand: Avalanche Card

Avalanches, National Geographic perspective: Avalanches

New Zealand Avalanche Centre: Public Advisory

From New Zealand Guide Bill Atkinson's site: Avalanche

Loose snow avalanche on the Tantalus from the new snow on Wednesday and Thursday.

At 2280 meters the temperature was +3, it was dead calm as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +5, 55 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +3.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

More discussion on the Snow Be : The Searchless Beacon

Who did get the most snow this winter: Top 21 resorts North America

International Association of Snowmobile Administrators: IASA

Still lots of snow in the Alpine.

The forecast looks good for today, more sun than cloud. Only 4 days left of lift access.

At 2280 meters the temperature was -1, winds were 20-35 KPH from the ENE as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +4, 76% relative humidity and the barometer is rising.
In the valley it is +4.


For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From the World Snowboard guide: Avalanche & Rescue

A ski safety blog: Blog

The fresh snow from yesterday morning. 

Yes, Snow showers in the alpine Wednesday. It actually was an ok surface to ski on!!

At 2280 meters as of 06:00 the temperature was -4, winds were 0-10 KPH from the WSW.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -1, 100 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is + 6.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Update on Siachen Avalanche Tragedy: Siachen Glacier

An avalanche enters bathroom,  resident in Europe, old story but interesting: Davos

Still in tact, amazing effort to keep the white ribbon!

Mother nature gave us a bit of everything yesterday, but for the most part skiing mid mountain was quite nice.

At 2280 meters the temperature was -4, winds were 5-15 KPH from the SSE as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -.5, 94 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +6.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From the US some avalanche statistics: Avalanche Rescue Association Blog

An American project to promote avalanche information sharing: Avalanche mapping.org

Slovakians test airbags: Three Dummies

Unofficial networks response to the snow-be posted yesterday: Snow-be

Convective clouds formed very early in the day May 22, 2012. 

Slab release NE aspect above Grizzly lake taken on Saturday May 19, 2012. Release date ?

Thanks to Toby Tortorelli for the photo submission.

Here are some pics from Sat. on NE exposure above Grizzly lake. Look at the depth of the slab on the zoomed pic left side. Doesn't look like a cornice failure initiation. 






At 2280 meters the temperature was -4, winds were 20-30 KPH from the S as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -.5, 90 % relative humidity and the barometer was rising.
In the valley it was +6. 




For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory


Some information from Switzerland on Airbags: Swissinfo


Transmitter but does not receive: Aussie Skier


Here is a link to the above mentioned product: Snow-be






The ribbon of snow to the valley is succumbing to the temperatures and rain!

Rain is forecasted for the alpine today, that might change the hazard, still lots of snow in the alpine.

At 2280 meters the temperature was 0, and winds were 20-40 KPH from the ESE as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +2, 99% relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +7.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Still snowing in the Alps: Austria

From down under, NZ ski hill to open June 9 TH: Cornet Peak

Snowmobiler uses Float 30 in an avalanche May 17, 2012:  Iceland

All the avalanche activity close to Whistler is over a week old. Not much has happened recently.

At 2280 meters the temperature was 0, and winds were 15-30 KPH from the SSE as of 06:00 Hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +3, 63 % relative humidity and the barometer is declining lightly.
In the valley it was +6.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Nasa's doing research on snow: NASA

Clear cuts may help avalanches destroy more trees: Forests

Still some great skiing to be had on Blackcomb and in the back country.

At 2280 meters the temperature as of 06:00 hrs was -3, winds were 0-10 KPH from the E.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -2, 85 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is 0.

Another great day of corn skiing with those temperatures.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Highway project in Washington State to alleviate avalanche closures: Snoquqlmie Pass

News from down under, NZ avalanche season just starting: Arthur's Pass Mountaineering

Entire mountainside releases in Switzerland: Big Rock Slide

Mt Garibaldi way back in the upper right corner.

The past few days have seen large convective clouds in the area. Still great spring skiing!

At 2280 meters the temperature was -5.5, and winds were 10-20 KPH from the ESE as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was -2, 69% relative humidity and the barometer is on the rise.
In the valley it is +1.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Avalanches in Scotland: Cairngorms

Some avalanche Activity on the Hurley:

Hello All,

Just wanted to send out a Heads Up! Yesterday around noon a Size 3 - 3.5 avalanche crossed the Hurely FSR between Km 11-12. It came down from the east side of Green Mountain in an avalanche path that was a regular offender. The road had been cleared through previous avalanches in the same slide paths within the last couple of weeks.

What is special about this slide is that the slope is SE facing and has seen high temperatures for the last week, but didn't slide until yesterday. The difference yesterday was that the area received a little bit of rain from convective clouds. The gauge at Green Mountain only recorded one or two mm of precipitation, but local reports say there was more in isolated areas.

With the forecast for 10-20mm of precipitation this coming weekend take care out there. There is still enough snow to slide to valley bottom and block the road behind you. The slide on the Hurley was reported about 6 meters deep.

Cheers,
Conny Amelunxen
MG

From Braden Douglas, a picture of the road under path 51 on the Duffy Lake Road. Recent activity!

A slab avalanche popped out by the moraine a few days ago in the upper Fitzsimmons drainage.

At 2280meters the temperature was -3, and winds were 0-10 KPH from the SSE as of 06:00 hrs.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +.5, 75 % relative humidity and the barometer is on a downward trend.
In the valley it is +3.
Should be some rest corn skiing again today with the cooler temps last night.


For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

For some more great images go Garibaldi : Pierrot Harvie

Older footage, skier tries to outrun avalanche: National Geographic

Yesterday started out with a few showers but later in the day it was quite pleasant.

The shadows appeared as the day progressed. 

Mount Garibaldi from a distance is very spectacular, below are some images that are a lot closer.

At 2280 meters the temperture was + 1 as of 06:00 hrs, winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +5, 75% relative humidity and the barometer is falling.
In the valley it is + 11.

Max temp at 2280 meters was +7 at 17:45 yesterday.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

From the North Face , Know Boundaries : The Human Factor

Thanks to Pierrot Harvie for submitting some photos from his tour from Brohm ridge to Garibaldi from this past week end, except for some older activity he did not observe any recent avalanches considering the temperatures we had on the week end.

Certainly some old activity here.

West Face of Garibaldi.

[MCR] South coast avalanche activity

Some old activity on the Tantalus Range, btm right corner, some observations noted on ACMG blog.

At 2280 meters the temperature was +3 as of 06:00, winds were 20-35 KPH from the S.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +8, 32.5 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is + 4.

Max temperature at 2280 meters was +13 at 19:15 yesterday.
The corn skiing is still good. The park is busy!

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Information on ABS airbags and its inventor: Peter Aschauer

Sunday, May 13, 2012

[MCR] South coast avalanche activity

New Avalanche Activity:

I have been doing long mountain bike rides around the Squamish Trails yesterday and today.  Daytime highs of 24 degrees.

Saturday: Large slab avalanche  crown(fracture) line was visible on Mt. Thyestes(across the Squamish River at the eastern end of the Tantalus Range), East aspect at 1500 M, treeline bowl feature.  Approx. size 2

Sunday:  Large slab avalanche crown(fracture) line was visible on Mt Murchison / Mt. Lapworth Bowl( across the Squamish River west of Squamish).  East aspect 2000 M, alpine Ridge feature.  Approx. Size 2.5 

It looked like the crown lines were a couple of meters deep viewed from 10 km away.  There were no rocks or ground visible in the bed surface.  The debris was not visible from my locations.

Chris Lawrence
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
CAA Professional Member
chrislawrence@shaw.ca

No activity yesterday on Mt Currie either!

One of the many grouse which can be seen and heard around the mountain these days.

At 2280 meters the temperature was +4 as of 06:00 hrs, winds were 5-15 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +7, 40% relative humidity and the barometer is on a slight decline.
In the valley it is +3.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Family sues over inbounds avalanche death: Winter Park

Alaska is still in a winter cycle: Alyeska

Some very good images of  an Avalanche on Annapurna: Very Lucky

A video on the crevasse incident on Friday, not so sure about the height stated: Decker

Guess when this image was taken??

A solo skier fell in a crevasse on Decker Mountain Friday. See story and more pictures below.

The corn skiing on Friday was very nice if your timing was right.

As of 06:00 the temperature was 0 at 2280 meters, and the winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE.
At 1550 meters the temperature was +5, 38 % relative humidity and the barometer is steady.
In the valley it is +1.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Norwegian skier dies from injuries after being caught in an avalanche: Mont Blanc

Update on Siachen Glacier avalanche: 135 Buried Souls

Update on avalanche in Tibet: Brahmaputra River Canyon

Avalanches from the past:

The White Killer

The winter of 1950-1951 also took with it many lives, leaving many homeless and dozens under the fearful and grim memories of the tragic avalanche that hit Alps of south-central Europe. 

The January of 1951 received more than usual snowfall at some places more than seven feet. The result was the recipe for avalanche. And finally in the last week of January the white killer was let lose.

Resulting in more than hundred avalanches during the winter season wiping out entire vegetation and destroying homes and raging havoc on mankind. The village of Airolo was completely wiped out. That particular winter claimed more than 280 casualties of the dwellers of Alps.  

Wet slides have huge destructive potential!!

A gentleman travelling solo on the Decker Glacier fell into a crevasse May 11, 2012. Luckily another solo ski tourer witnessed the event accessed the situation and went for help. Whistler SAR extricated the gentleman who had landed 15 meters onto his butt and otherwise uninjured.

As stated in the blog yesterday there appears to be many crevasses sagging and opening up. Use caution, just because there are old tracks over a depression does not mean its safe. Avoid depressions and look at where you are on the glaciers. Situational awareness and good visual observations will keep you safe!!
The temperatures are very warm, more crevasses will be sagging in the next while!

    If you look closely you can see where the snow was bridging.

Its certainly getting warm, things should change:

Wayne,

I spotted a deep slab, not to ground, from a cornice failure. The cornice is
near the end of the ridge between Helm Flats and Corrie Lake in the park,
while the crown of the slab is down near treeline from a big wind feature.

The crust was far less durable today, wet grains with a weak crust, easy ski
pole to ground in most areas including a lot of the debris from last Monday.

Who knows, maybe this pattern will trigger a cycle!

Tony