January 24, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Skier accidental, 2 people, likely late Saturday afternoon January 21, 2017, Sz 3 Poo Basin.

    Different perspective of the size of the crown.

    Full path of Sa Saturday.

    Messed up quite a few trees.

    Debris at the btm of the Sa-- Poop Chutes.

    Sz 2.5 released Monday morning with the avalauncher. Rock Shot 2 Blackcomb Peak.

    Debris down to Blackcomb Lake.

    Debris from Heli Bombing, Bony Basin from Friday January 20, 2017.

   An avalanche has killed a Canadian Ski Tourer near St Foy Taretaise, France-Story below-Net Pic

   Avalanche control on WB yesterday produced a SZ 2.5 in Lakeside Bowl. Sz 1 point releases noted.



    YESTERDAY:

    Just before sunrise Monday January 23, 2017.

    Looking North Monday morning. Stratus layer eventually lifted and dissipated.

    Highway to the Spearhead.

    Symphony  Chair.

    Sun was warm, snow melting and refreezing in the trees.

    Monday morning image.

    Big picture Monday afternoon.

    Sunset was officially at 16:50 on Monday.


Weather Observations for January 24, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters  -11, Winds were 15-25 KPH E   --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters  -10, Winds were 10-20 KPH S   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH NE--Rendevous
1835 meters    -8, Winds were     0-5 KPH E   --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 220 cm Base, RH 99%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 155 cm Base, RH 95%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters    -7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.6, trace of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.




FORECAST:

High pressure will bring mostly sunny skies to the area today in a Northery flow aloft. The FL should max out at around 900 meters for today and tomorrow, with it dropping back down to surface in the evening. We will see some cloud development during the week, with the chance of some convective snow flurries.
No real change until possibly Sunday when a very weak frontal band is forecasted to push through this zone. Enjoy the weather, snow conditions are very nice.

    High pressure for today with mostly sunny skies.

   Northerly flow for today and tomorrow.

   Cloudy Wednesday and Thursday, with the chance of some isolated snow flurries.

   High pressure into the weekend.

   Some cloud expected for Friday as well.



OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

Matt Gunn January 24 at 12:27am

Visited the Watersprite Lake area on Monday. Access road is plowed to the Skookum powerstation but is incredibly icy. Used 4WD and chains on all tires and felt nervous the whole way. Sledded from the powerstation to the winter trailhead and skinned into the lake. Found excellent snow quality above the lake skiing runs in the Martin Peak Basin. Several crowns evident from past slides and encountered some windslab at higher elevations; kept to lower consequence, supported terrain. Snow quality was excellent above the hut. South aspects saw considerable warming resulting in numerous point releases. Great day in the hills. John 'Rusty' Gill January 23 at 10:35pm Went to the basin directly South of Cayoosh yesterday (Sunday) as the final day for our AST2 course. Noticed some small (Size 1) slides, a few days old, likely from the recent storm cycle. Nothing major to see. Got a few large whumpfs on low angle terrain while skinning. Nothing on steeper terrain. Compression test found a weakness in the surface 10-20cm, then a more stubborn weakness around 60cm down on unconsolidated snow.  Full report here:  https://outdoor-explore.com/journey/21/cayoosh-ski-tour

    Spindrift Monday morning.

    Surface Hoar is liking the conditions.

    Wind swept with some surface hoar development.

   My favourite new boards- Volkl RTM 86

    Monday morning.

    Rider freeways below a very white Black Tusk.


ARTICLES:

46 Year  old Canadian Ski Tourer dies near St Foy Taretaise: French Alps

Burial in avalanche a wake up call for Revelstoke Resident: Revelstoke Times

Rescuers believe air pockets might still keep people alive: Italy Avalanche

US 395 Still closed--Avalanche Triggers Evacuations of McGee: Mammoth Times

Two rescued from car buried under avalanche are ok: Alpine Meadow, Calif.

How avalanche forecasters use bombs, a howitzer, and an M60 Tank: Snowqualmie Pass