March 4, 2017

   AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in Graubunden, SUI  has claimed a snowboarder, story in article section.   Net Pic

    An avalanche has claimed 7 skiers on Mt Cheget, Russia. Story in article section.      Net Pic

    Avalanche control on WB yesterday produced Sz 1-2.5 Sc Xe in steep alp start zones.


   YESTERDAY:

    07:30 hrs Friday March 3, 2017.                                                                      Cheryl Skribe image

    Snow line was at 800 meters, raining in the valley at 08:00 Hrs.

    Snow drift outside the Rendezvous Restaurant.

   Many natural avalanches in steep terrain in the trees.

    Friday morning, 09:30 hrs.

   This picture taken at the same time frame as the above image.

    Diamond Bowl yesterday.

    Snowing in the valley once the cold front arrived.


Weather Observations for March 4, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -14, Winds were 35-50 KPH S   --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters      -12, Winds were 30-45 KPH S   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters      -12, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Rendevous
1835 meters      -11, Winds were 20-35 KPH S   --Roundhouse
1650 meters      -10, 5 cm of new snow, 21 cm in 24 hrs, 289 cm Base, RH 88%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters      -11, 5 cm of new snow, 17 cm in 24 hrs, 200 cm Base, RH 92%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters       -3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.1, 12.1mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A deep cold upper level trough will bring unsettled weather to the zone today in an Easterly low level flow. A weak frontal band associated with the low will bring overcast skies to the area tonight into Sunday morning. The FL will remain below surface for the next few days. Sunday will see light snowfall through out the day. A series of frontal bands will bring snow to the area for the entire week. As of now Wednesday night is looking like a decent storm. More on that as we get closer.
Guesstimates: trace-1 cm by Sunday morning, 8-12 cm by Monday morning, 5-10 cm by Tuesday morning, 6-8 cm by Wednesday morning. 30-40 cm Wednesday & Thursday.

    GOES IR Image this am.

    Low off the coast Saturday morning, unsettled weather for most of the day.

     Much cooler temperatures for today.

    Low will be over our zone on Sunday.

    Looking into next Tuesday.


OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Brohm Ridge on Friday just past the yellow gate, Sz 2 snowmobile remote. John Furneaux Pic

                     3 People partially buried 50 cm slab on crust. John Furneaux Pic

                                                                                                                          Ross Mailloux Image

We spent the morning and early afternoon in the hanging lake environs. We toured up to approx 1400m and noted between 40-50cm of HST. Many small and larger features had run during the last 24hrs on what seemed like a transitional rain crust. Things were still quite reactive throughout our tour and we were able to ski cut every feature we held in suspicion with results. Visibility was low so we could not observe the alpine. We opted to do a small run down from the low ridge that guards rainbow lake and continued  down to beer at the day lodge. Sporty out there.

Cheers,
Ross Mailloux

    Blackcomb ski patrol got the alpine open fairly quickly on Friday

    From 06:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs Friday at 1550 meters.

    Many fracture lines in the trees on Friday.

    Friday evening the snow began to abate.



ARTICLES:

Snow boarder killed in an avalanche in Graubunden: Switzerland

Teen dies from injuries sustained in avalanche in SouthnTyrol area: Italy

Avalanche kills 7 skiers on Mount Cheget: Russia

Human Powered Skiing: Aspen Uphill Policy

How to stay safe from avalanches when skiing in the alps: The Telegraph