January 6, 2017

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche near Crystal Mountain has claimed a backcountry skier, article below--Net Pic

    An avalanche on Stanton Mountain has claimed a backcountry skier, story below             Net Pic

   Avalanche in Squaw Valley takes out some snow guns on Wednesday.

   Locally, no avalanche activity was observed Thursday.





   YESTERDAY:

    Very early, Thursday January 4, 2016.

    Fissile just before sunrise.

    Powder Mountain first light.

    Another awesome day in the mountains. High thin cirrus cloud Thursday morning.

    Kokanee Series Thursday on JC Run.

    Fun Course.

    JC Liftline!!

    Image from Thursday morning, front sliding down the coast.

    Off piste skiing improved yesterday.

    Alpen glow Thursday evening.

    Sunset was at 16:25 hrs.


WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 6, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -12, Winds were 30-40 KPH S  --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -11, Winds were 35-55 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -9, Winds were 20-30 KPH SE   --Rendevous
1835 meters     -8, Winds were 20-35 KPH S      --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -7, 1 cm of new snow, 1 cm in 24 hrs, 184 cm Base, RH 88%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -10, trace of new snow, trace in 24 hrs,   98 cm Base, RH 93%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     -8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -5.1, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcst skies, limited visibility and it is snowing lightly.


FORECAST:

A weakening low pressure system moving down the coast will bring cloudy conditions with light snowfall in a West-Southwest flow aloft. As the low moves south, another low from the South will eventually combine, bringing several weak frontal bands, but their intensity and timing are very difficult to forecast. Several breaks over the next couple of days will bring unsettled conditions into the mix as well. Sunday is looking like the best chance for any real accumulations.  Guesstimates: 5-15 cm for Saturday morning, 6-8 cm for Sunday morning, 15-20 cm for Monday morning.

    Low moving down the coast.

    Light snow for today with overcast skies and a FL near the surface.

    IR image from this am.

    Unsettled Saturday with more cloud for Sunday.




VIDEO FRIDAY:

Atmospheric River hits Coast: Northern California

Ski Cutting on Mt Saint Helene's: Jay Lane

Avalanche roller used to break up snow: Copper Mountain, Co


ARTICLES:

Out of Bounds avalanche near Crystal Mtn has claimed a backcountry skier: Washington State

Backcountry Skier killed in an avalanche in Glacier Park:Montana

Rescue crews respond to avalanche Southwest of Reno: Highway Slide

Split Board AST Courses: Extremely Canadian

Two skiers saved after avalanche burial at Mt Rose: Lake Tahoe

Avalanche Safety Courses recomended for Backcountry Enthusiasts: Avalanche Canada




OBSERVATIONS:

Simon Warhurst January 5 at 8:55pm

I work for a forest company, Interwest Timber Ltd, in Lillooet. Over the last summer and fall we’ve opened up the road into the Van Horlick drainage and are actively logging and hauling on the roads now.  Industrial activity is generally occurring between 2:00 a.m. (logging trucks in and out) and continues until 6:00 p.m., usually with the last logging truck out by 3:00 p.m. There are approximately 20 loads/day being hauled, during the week. There is intermittent activity on weekends, which could include harvesting, road maintenance (plowing) and possibly hauling.  Logging trucks are turning in both directions onto Hwy 99, so do not block the Hwy junction.  The Van Horlick road is radio-assisted, so wherever possible, follow industrial traffic and pull over when they do to clear other traffic (generally loaded vehicles have the right-of-way).The road is not being maintained for 2 wheel-drive access. If you think you will need to put chains on, do so in a pull-out, not in the centre of the road at the bottom of the steep section of road near the 2km (as somebody did early this week and was almost run into).  Park only in signed, designated areas, specifically at the 6km (access turn-off to Sanctuary area) and the 9km (access turn-off to Temple area). The Snowspider area is very congested at this time, with most of the harvesting activity concentrated here, so we are asking people to stay out of this area. This work should go on until early February.  The Off-Road Vehicle Act and Regulations apply to snowmobiles, the gist being, don’t ride a snowmobile on a road that has been plowed and/or is fit for travel with other vehicles.  Thanks,  Simon Warhurst, RFT  Interwest Timber Ltd  250 256-7782     High cirrus cloud early Thursday morning.     Guns a blazing.    Big air off the Shack Booter.     Symphony Chair.     Sunset Thursday evening.