February 13, 2014

                                                                                                                                    Toby Salin Photo

Today I triggered a size 2 off the traverse below Don't Swill towards Husume boot pack.  I ski cut from above and skied away from it. No capture.  Ran all the way to the glacier floor.  Sympathetic release below and lookers left. Don't Swill chute ripped out in small sluffy manageable pockets. Husume boot pack whoomped and shifted, but did not release.  Scary feeling! Husume chute was thigh deep and did not move at all.  Layed trenches the whole way down. Feel free to use my photo on your site! February 12, 2014.

Cheers, Toby Salin

    Driving too work yesterday made you want to be in the snow as soon as possible.

    Keener's were lined up by 07:30 yesterday morning.

Experts Only sign from Kirkwood, Steep and Nasty, just like here! Still land mines, shark  fins, and widow makers ever so slightly buried under low density snow. Charging out of the gate can result in life altering injuries. Take it easy until we get more snow!!

    Xe and Sc produced size 1-2 avalanches on Blackcomb/Whistler yesterday.

    February 12, 2014; amazing day with fresh snow and nice light.

    There were certainly lots of happy people getting face shots for the first time in a while.


Weather observations for February 13, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters     -7, Winds were 50-65 KPH from the S
2180 meters     -7, Winds were 50-85 KPH from the S
1860 meters     -6, Winds were 40-70 KPH from the S
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 30-70 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters     -3, 13 cm of new snow, Base 178 cm
1550 meters     -2, 14 cm of new snow, Base 138 cm
  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, 15.8 mm of precip yesterday

The favourable forecast and present pattern will continue to bring a series of fronts which will keep the flow of snow going until next week. Light snowfall will continue throughout the day with 2-4 cm of snow by this afternoon, then becoming unsettled. A weak frontal band will again reach the coast this evening with moderate snowfall over night into Friday. A series of stronger Pacific storms will impact our zone through the weekend, with at times heavy snowfall and strong winds. Bring it on!!! Guesstimates: 10-15 cm by Friday afternoon, Trace to 2 cm by Saturday morning, 20-25 cm by Sunday morning, 20-25 cm by Monday morning, more snow for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

    Nice and dry yesterday morning, blue skies and fresh pow!!

    Explanation of what the jet stream and Alaskan Low have in store for us.

Alaska Co-Op copes with avalanche threat: Hydro Lines in Peril

Body found of British-Swiss Skier caught by avalanche: Chamonix

Illegal Base Jump from the Peak to Peak Lift: Whistler

Four Unhurt skiers rescued after avalanche: Near Little Eagle Meadows, Oregon

Yukon Avalanche Association: Know the Snow

Father & Son injured in Stevens Pass Avalanche: Big Chief; Outside Ski Area Boundary

3 Men Survive Ophir Pass avalanche: Red Mountain Pass, Colorado

Avalanche Airbag deployed after skier being caugth in slide. Worth a look

The next front was moving down the coast, another 12 cm at Pig Alley overnight.

    Strong winds in the morning from the SW kept the snow moving around!! 65 KPH around 11:00.

    Wind affected snow above tree line on South aspects.

    As the day progressed the next front slowly moved into our zone by days end.

    Fracture line in Blackcomb bowl from explosive work in the morning.

    Plate stellar's were visible on the surface yesterday in Lakeside.

    Many small soft slabs could be ski cut in the right locations.

    Started snowing lightly at around 16:30 Hours yesterday afternoon.