Canadian National Paragliding Championship, launch in Pemberton, BC

Thanks to Aaron Tasker for sending information on avalanche in New Zealand.

Mt Ruapehu Avalanche: You Tube

News article Mt Ruapehu: August 5, 2012

Photos from Mt Ruapehu: Ski Field

Lightning strikes three mountaineers at Mont Blanc: Lightning

On going recovery on Siachen Glacier: Kashmir

From the Netherlands: Prince Johan Friso

A different twist on dealing with climate change: France

Not much avalanche activity these days but there is a lot of wildlife around. Hiking trails are in great shape.

Skiing in New Zealand: Treble Cone Area

American Avalanche Association: Memorial List

Snow and Avalanche Lab: Montana State University

CAC looking for Assistant Avalanche Field Technician: Employment Opportunity

From Stanford University, on line Avalanche Training, Masters Project from 2006: Mind the Avalanche

New study from Denmark: Greenland



New hiking trail on Whistler opening today, Spearhead Walk is a short pleasant trail with some great views. The alpine flowers are in full bloom, great time to get up in the alpine and head out into the meadows.

Spearhead Walk with great views into the Fitzsimmons Valley.

Great hike to take in the flora and fauna.

Any guesses where this photo is taken from? We do live in an amazing place!

Long range forecast looks good, hiking trails around Whistler are in great shape!

Using tree rings in Avalanche Forecasting: Colorado

Short but great article from Ed La Chapelle: The Ascending Spiral

Next winters predictions have already started: From Joe Bastardi

Avalanche victim family suing Vail resorts: Not about the money

Mushroom shaped cumulus cloud.  

Have not seen many Pine Grosbeaks around the Whistler area, this picture was taken near the Crystal Hut on Blackcomb in June. 

Information on the Pine Grosbeak: Pine Grosbeak

Update on Denali rescue after an avalanche involvement: 2 climbers injured


Ice Avalanches found on Saturn moon: Iapetus

Drone being developed for avalanche related work: From France

Winter hits hard in New Zealand: Winter Storm

Why do people take risks? : Vancouver Sun

Clarks Nutcracker, they can be brave enough to eat out of your hand!

For more information on this bird: Clarks Nutcracker

Crevasses on Rainbow Glacier opening up.

Minimum temperature at 2260 meters was +3 this morning, maximum was +12 yesterday afternoon.


2 Mountaineer's rescued after avalanche involvement: 17,200 Feet, Denali's West Buttress

Update on avalanche in Kashmir, April 2012: 5 more bodies recovered

Avalanche on Denali caught on POV camera: June 16, 2012

Sun cupping and rain runnels. Pretty cool patterns!

Fawn on Whistler Mountain. 

View of Blackcomb form Rainbow Glacier. Amazing that there is still snow from the features still visible in the terrain park. July 26, 2012

As of 08:00 this morning the temperature at 2260 meters was +7, max temp yesterday was +14 at that elevation.

ISSW 2013 to be in Chamonix: Cool place for a conference

More information on climate change: Ozone layer

Amazing footage of a glacier collapsing: Hit the throttle

Physics and Avalanches: From Phys.org

The last few days have produced some very large clouds.

Some information on cumulus clouds: Towering Cumulus

The road along Lillooet Lake has drift wood on it, snow melt this year has risen water levels and kept them there for a long time. Some of the campsites in the area are flooded and mosquito infested.

Temperature at 2260 meters on July 23 went as low as +1. Today as of 07:00 hrs the temp at 2260 meters is +6.

Long term forecast from France, wish I could do this accurately? : Sun, Clouds, Snow

From Austria, Avalanche Radar: Detection of avalanches and rockslides

For the sledders out there: Summer Drag Races

From New Zealand, July 17 stiff wind slab: Cardrona Backcountry

For a little summer review, load the power point presentation Creation of a mountain snowpack: Snow Metamorphism

Wingsuit jumps banned in Chamonix: New Bylaw

A male Blue Grouse spotted on Blackcomb Mountain.

Female Blue Grouse not far from where the male was.

Last but not least, a Blue Grouse Chick.

Picture of an avalanche taken by Tim Gossett, a pilot from Talkeetna Air in Alaska. July 7, 2012 Click link below for story.

Avalanches and earthquakes: From Alaska

Earth quake sets off avalanches in New Zealand,  2010: Mt Hutt

Heli skiing in New Zealand: Powder to be had

Avalanche update from Denali: Avalanche conditions

From the past August 2008 K2: The perils of climbing K2

From the American Alpine Institute: Dangers of Glissading

From the European Space Agency: Need a job!

The temperature at 2260 meters has dropped to +2.5 this morning. It is looking wet for a couple of days. 

Thanks to Tanya Karateew for these photos from a recent hike up Wedge. She reported no snow on the trail and that it was in great shape.

Information from Mt Rainier: Avalanche Path last year compared to this year

Garabaldi Provincial Park Trails update: Latest Bulletin

From unofficialnetworks, Do ski patrollers live a better life than you? : Hard to pay the bills with all those skills

It is +9 at 2260 meters this morning as of 07:00 Hrs.

For a look at the present satellite picture : Looking cloudy

A great shot of the Mont Maudit area.

Another article on the tragedy on Mont Maudit: The Telegraph

Avalanche knocks climbers down Japanese couloir: Gasherbrum 1 (K5)

Climate Change & Avalanches: NY Times

Global warming and icebergs: Greenland

Whistler sailing regatta on Saturday, good wind and good times. These kids were not thinking about avalanches.

South African snow storms: 120 people trapped

5.5 mile Landslide on Johns Hopkins Glacier, look through the pictures, there are some avalanches caused by the landslide, the video is pretty cool also: Massive Landslide

Not much avalanche news but there is always lots of discussion on risk and uncertainty. Things we can use in every day life!

A different perspective on risk management: An Opinion

Another site, other opinions on uncertainty: Many opinions out there

The difference between risk and uncertainty: Explanation

World Congress on Mountain Medicine helicopter demonstrations at the Whistler Municipal Helipad, July 16, 2012.  Yes it was hot, the shade was your friend.  

Johnsons Landing land slide likely caused by an avalanche blocking creek.

Johnsons Landing: Investigation Continuing

Video on Johnsons Landing. Mike Hagar reporting: Vancouver Sun

Another enormous land slide in Glacier Bay National Park: Massive Landslide

2 more climbers dead on Mont Blanc: Caught in the elements

4 more bodies recovered: Kashmir

In the alpine the temperatures have cooled off, high yesterday was +19, presently +5.

Below are a few recent  shots from Michael Gigliotti,  cornice collapse west side of Mt Birkenhead.

Mount Maudit avalanche update:

From the Vancouver Sun: Mount Maudit

From the Telegraph: Survivors Description

At 2260 meters the temperature is +11, max temperature yesterday was +19.

The Tantalus Range, shot taken from the Pemberton Ice Cap.

Looking around at the local mountains it is easy to see how quickly the snow is melting. In the past week there has been a significant change!

Many of the high alpine lakes are just starting to open up.

Present temperature in the alpine is +13. Another hot day on the way!


From Ortovox, risk management: 3x3 filter method

Dust storms contribute to early snow melt: Colorado

Conditions in Queenstown are not very appealing: Moderate

Mont Blanc Avalanche: Climbers Killed

The snow melt has flooded the south end of Green Lake, in one spot of the trail you could float a canoe, a truly multi purpose trail.

Thanks to Brian Baker for this shot, slide out of NW chute on Parkhurst, taken July 6, 2012 from the Wedgemount cabin.

Looking for a graduate program in avalanche studies: University of Calgary

6 Th world congress on Mountain Medicine July 13-17 Th: Whistler

Some bad avalanche footage: Avalanche destroys Vail

Flying SOUTH, need your air bag, make sure its good with the airline: Airbags

More reading on flying airbags: Airbags

From unofficial, flying with airbags: No Go

Avalanche hits Ghandruk: Nepal

Crazy clouds mixed in with some Siberian smoke.

More information on the Siberian Fires: Smoke from Siberia

A couple of young bucks which will contribute to the ever growing deer population around Whistler.

Information on Black Tailed Deer: Wikipedia

Slab popped out on the Ice Cap about 7 days ago.

In the past few days I am sure everyone has been wondering where the smoke is coming from. Well it appears that smoke from Asia is reaching the Pacific Northwest.

  The red area is where there are currently fires burning,  mixed in with a bit of pollution and we have hazy skies in BC.

Makes for some spectacular sunsets, this one July 7, 2012 Lillooett Lake.


Update on Gayari Avalanche Site: Kashmir

Min temperature at 2260 meters yesterday was +8, max was +17. There is a lot of melting as all the lakes and rivers are full.