23 Jan 2017

January 23, 2017


    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    More articles on the avalanche disaster in Italy below.                                                           Net Pic

    No avalanche activity to report locally with the exception of the observations below.
    Some very soft slabs Sz 1, no real hazard.



    YESTERDAY:

    Another awesome day Sunday January 22, 2017.

    Looking South Sunday morning.

    You could see the occluded front moving in from the South.

    Practising probing technique at Avalanche Awareness Days.

    Light slowly went flat as the front moved in.

    Very flat in Bushrat later in the afternoon.

    Sunday morning.

    Cool sky colour!!


Weather Observations for January 23, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -9, Winds were 15-20 KPH W    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -8, Winds were 20-35 KPH W    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -6, Winds were 10-15 KPH NNE--Rendevous
1835 meters   -6, Winds were     0-5 KPH SE   --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -6, 2 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 229 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -6, 1 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 156 cm Base, RH 95%  --Catskinner 
  660 meters    0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.6, trace mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have scattered cloud, unlimited visibility with a valley cloud layer.


 FORECAST:

A surface ridge will develop with dry conditions for most of the week. Unsettled weather for this am with the low off the Oregon Coast still spinning cloud our way. The Fl will hover in the 1000 m range.  Ridge will strengthen for Tuesday with mostly sunny skies. Expect some cloud development during the week. A weak frontal band could reach the area by Friday with some light snowfall. Enjoy the great conditions!!


    Low of the coast will continue to spin some cloud our way.

    Still some lingering cloud this am, mostly sunny later in the day.

    High pressure strengthens Tuesday.

   Surface high for most of the week.



OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:



January 22 at 8:46pm

First time up Stair Master and down the Poop Chutes. Snows in sheltered areas was amazing but holy were the SW open and exposed faces dicey with a very reactive 5-10cm wind slab which propagates very fast/easily. NW faces showed minimal amounts of activity around Stairmaster. We saw a few decent size crowns from previous size 1 to 2 avalanches from this past wet storm cycle.

    Spindrift on Chainsaw Ridge in the morning.

    Avalanche Awareness Days were a huge success over the weekend.

    Stastrugi, wind was forming some windslab conditions in the backcountry.

    The front was very dark as it moved in from the South.


ARTICLES:

Skier from Alaska killed in an avalanche near Ymir: Nelson Daily

Questions arise over Italy's response to snow-hit hotel: Farindola

Survivor tells of 58 hour ordeal: Italy

A tragedy of Avalanche Errors that led to two broken legs: Jeremy Jones

High Avalanche Danger in Utah's Backcountry: Salt Lake City

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