February 14, 2014

                                                               Happy Valentines Day

    Yesterday morning, lots of events on the go, 14 cm of fresh snow, some wind and great skiing.

    There were some firm slabs that were easily released in certain areas.

    Size 2 debris Xl in lakeside Bowl. Rock Shot 4 came down into the Hourglass.

Areas with thin snow pack and Feb 10 crust have an abundance of facets and cupped facets waiting for more of a load, may be interesting by next week with added tension in the snowpack.

    With the strong winds and abundance of dry snow large ribs were forming on specific aspects.

    Thanks to Steve Ansell for these photos and intel from the North Shore Mountains.

Thanks for the great blog Wayne! Just thought I'd pass along some photos of an avalanche closer to Vancouver, near Pump Peak on Mt Seymour earlier this afternoon. Remote triggered while snowshoeing along the ridge just north of the marked winter trail. A large whumph occurred as the crust I was standing on collapsed, and then this sound propagated about 20-30 meters before the release started slowly section-by-section above some cliffs. Trigger location was safely on flat ground well away from the large north-facing cliffs. Perhaps size 1.5? Photos attached.

Cheers, Steve

    Unsettled by the end of the day February 13, 2014.



Weather observations for February 14, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters     -8, Winds were 55-80 KPH from the S
2180 meters     -8, Winds were 35-65 KPH from the S
1860 meters     -7, Winds were 20-50 KPH from the S
1835 meters     -7, Winds were 20-40 KPH from the S
1650 meters     -5, 8 cm of new snow, Base 178 cm
1550 meters     -4, 9 cm of new snow, Base 145 cm 11 cm in 24 hours
  660 meters      0, Valley Temperature, 4.3 mm of precip Thursday

For the forecast, strong westerly flow aloft will continue to bring moist and stable conditions for today. Several strong frontal systems are on course for the weekend. Amounts are not huge but very respectful with the pattern being very favourable for all out in the snow box.  Expect strong winds. After the weekend it is forecasted to bring an upper trough into our zone with light-moderate precipitation, cloudy conditions and cooler temperatures. Freezing levels will moderate between 1200 meters briefly today to as low as 100 meters on Monday. Next week is looking like successive 10-15 cm snowfalls with temperates below surface. Could be a nice week. Guesstimates: 6-8 cm for today, light snow beginning Saturday afternoon with accumulations of 15-20 by Sunday morning, light to moderate to heavy snow Sunday with 15-20 cm by Monday morning, light snow Monday with accumulations of 8-10 cm by Tuesday morning. Hope this works, if I am wrong, oh well, skiing is good who cares anyway, better than 50-50 chance!! Tuesday and Wednesday are also looking favourable for snow.

    Image from yesterday showing the clearing we received after the frontal passage.

    Weak front will move through today giving way to unsettled conditions into Saturday afternoon.


Tax credit for SAR Volunteers: Long Time Coming

Rescuers extract 2 skiers in Deadly Oregon Avalanche: Baker City, Ore.

5 Avalanches in the past 5 days kill 6 people: Oregon, Utah, & Colorado

8 Feet of Snow cushions Cars 120-Foot Fall: Colorado

French Guide Union Splits: France

Interesting account of an unexpected avalanche by two brothers: Powell, Wyoming

Skier partially buried by Idaho Avalanche: Bald Mountain, Idaho

When Forecasts go Wrong: Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Large explosive detonation involving a deer: Wonder how well it hears!!!

Snow Talk's; February 14-weekend: University of Calgary

    Pacific is looking moist.

Atmospheric river going South of our zone, they can have it!!

Will be interesting to see what transpires here over the next few days!!

TETON AND GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS-JACKSON HOLE-
SALT RIVER AND WYOMING RANGES-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
AVALANCHE WARNING
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
704 PM MST WED FEB 12 2014

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER.

AN AVALANCHE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF
TETON...LINCOLN AND SUBLETTE COUNTIES FROM 7 PM WEDNESDAY UNTIL 7 PM
THURSDAY.

AN AVALANCHE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF
WESTERN WYOMING INCLUDING THE TETON...GROS VENTRE...SNAKE RIVER...SALT
RIVER...WYOMING RANGES AND THE TOGWOTEE PASS AREA. HEAVY SNOWFALL
AND STRONG WINDS HAVE CREATED VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS.
LARGE...DESTRUCTIVE AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY AND COULD IMPACT
ROADWAYS. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND
AVALANCHE RUNOUT ZONES SHOULD BE AVOIDED. FOR MORE INFORMATION
VISIT JHAVALANCHE.ORG.

Avalauncher Round released Rock 4 yesterday morning. 

    Strong persistent winds in the morning created some large snow deposits and lift issues.

    Large Cumulus by days end with some convective activity around 16:30m Hrs.

    Just a bit of wind affected snow!!

    For those more into cord, there will be great corduroy skiing today.

    Lower Blackcomb Ridge.