January 23, 2016

    An avalanche near Crested Butte claims snowmobiler, story in article section.      Denver Post Pic

    From 2 days ago, intel from Yves Wenger.                                                                      Yves Image

Hey Wango, Yeah this was on the North X Northwest side of the Tricouni / Cypres / Fee divide..... I don't an exact location or name for that ridge but roughly North east of High falls on the Squamish / Elaho valley side..... No one were at risk, we were scouting for some new riding terrain when we saw this entire ride coming down without human trigger..... I use the tele lens to take the pics from the adjacent safe ridge as I was uncomfortable to go down the trapped gully given what just happened..... we turn around and went in the relative safety of the trees at about 4500 feet for our riding..... This was North / Northwest aspect, loads of wind load from behind that ridge creating your A-typical Convex roll "perfect storm" situation..... Take Care and thanks for your blog efforts which I follow vicariously !

Can you imagine this slope without failing with a load on it!!

    08:30 Hours Friday January 22, 2016. Moist and warm in the valley.

    Still some sitting water on the roads.

    Glad they kept the alpine closed, nice to leave it settle.

    Natural activity in the Baggers from Thursday night. Blackcomb Mountain

    Snow was glommed on.

    Xe produced a size 2.5 on the head wall yesterday morning.

    Xl(avalauncher) got some very wet results out of Franz's Roll yesterday morning.

    Snowing at 1855 meters yesterday afternoon.

    Unsettled by 14:00 Hours, sun, cloud and power flurries.

    Warmish and moist in the valley yesterday afternoon.




Weather Observations for January 23, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -6, Winds were 15-25 KPH E   --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -5, Winds were 5-10 KPH E     --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -5, Winds were 0-5 KPH W      --Rendevous
1835 meters    -4, Winds were 5-10 KPH S     --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -3, 0 cm of new snow, 8 cm in 24 hrs, 204 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -3, 1 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 180 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.9. 19.5 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 08:00 Hours we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.

Limited avalanche control on WB yesterday produced size 1.5-2.5 Xe and Xl.

For the forecast, overcast this morning as an upper level low to our South spins some cloud our way in a Southerly flow aloft. By the afternoon we should see unsettled conditions as a weak upper ridge begins to have some influence in our zone. Freezing levels will hover around 1200 meters this afternoon dropping back down to around 800 meters this evening. Sunday will also be unsettled with slightly cooler temperatures and the FL hovering around 1000 meters. The ridge strengthens for Monday with more sun than cloud but the FL will rise as the day progresses to as high as 1500 meters. As of now Tuesday has a warm front move onto the coast with light precipitation.

    Overcast this morning becoming unsettled ass the day progresses.

    Unsettled again Sunday.

    Clear on Monday.

   Warm front on Tuesday.



ARTICLES:

Seasons First Avalanche death in Colorado: Kevlar Pass---CBAC Avalanche Summary

Why do skiers overlook the danger in Avalanche Terrain: BeyondTheEdge

Weak Snow pack promotes weekend avalanche warning: North Shore Rescue

Skier killed in avalanche had a "Passion for chasing snow": Mill Creek Canyon, Utah

Ski & Board in the Backcountry alone? Don't be an Idiot!!: SnowBest

Multiple Avalanches close Highway 40: Lillooet News

    Early yesterday morning.

    Avalanche Awareness Guides needed, apply through WB: Avalanche Awareness Volunteers

    Pygmy Owl, Whistler Mountain.  Northern Pygmy Owl

    Not a big crowd yesterday.

   As the cold front was passing yesterday morning. 40-80 Kph at around 11:30 Hours.

    Horstman Creek yesterday morning.

    Power Flurry on Whistler yesterday afternoon. Up to a 70 KPH gust at 15:00 Hours.

    Different angle on Blackcomb Bowl.

    Na (Natural Activity) in Lakeside Bowl.

    Good day to explore.