February 23, 2014

                      Sa Cham chutes Friday, size 2.                        Sonja Lercher Photo

    Skier release Feb 21, 2014 at around 11:00 hrs, estimated 1 meter crown.   Sonja Lercher photo

    Na avalanche in Steep Creek, low angle terrain, 30 deg slope.

    Steep Creek February 21, 2014.

    Thanks to Tony Horn for these Photos from Cowboy Ridge: 1.5 meter crown down to crust.

Didn't notice before but pic 1 has a ski track in it that wan't mine as I cut out to skier's right well above the crown...sketchy...might be an up track even but don't think so. That crown was a measured 1.5m so storm snow down to ice layer. Slide was about 60m wide and ran for 130m I'd say. Feb 22 Nd.

    Snowing lightly with an overcast sky, this morning, February 23, 2014.


Weather observations for February 24, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters     -14, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters     -14, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the SSE
1860 meters     -14, Winds were 0-5 KPH from the SSW
1835 meters     -14, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters     -12, 8 cm of new snow, Base 218 cm, 12 cm in 24 hours
1550 meters     -11, 5 cm of new snow, Base 172 cm, 9 cm in 24 hours
  660 meters       -4, Valley Temp, 4.2 mm of precip yesterday

For the forecast, Northwesterly flow aloft will bring another cloudy day with light snowfall from 4-6 cm. Expect unsettled conditions for most of the week, with slightly warmer temperatures. Models are still in disagreement so more on the forecast tomorrow.

    Still some moisture around for today.


Persistent Slab Problem: Flathead Avalanche Center

New idea for making steep rocky entrances friendlier: Fernie Ski Patrol

Anatomy of an avalanche: Durango Herald

Unusual Conditions make avalanches hard to predict: Canada.com

Human Triggered Avalanches: Whitefish Range, Montana

Snow falls across B.C.'s South Coast Saturday: CBC News

    New RFID readers are being installed.

    Peak to Creek groomed for the first time this year yesterday.

    Overcast yesterday with 4 cm recorded at 1650 meters Saturday afternoon.

    Ian and the wonder dog.