March 17, 2018

    AVALANCE ACTIVITY:

    Four missing after an avalanche strikes Vallon d'Arbi, Switzerland. Article below.    Net Pic

    Different perspective of the avalanche beside Mt. Davidson. Sz 3.5 Na (natural)

    Locally, Sa Sz 1 reported. Xc Nc up to Sz 3. Sc Sz 1-2.


    YESTERDAY:

    Sunrise Friday morning.

    Unsettled with scattered cloud in the am.

    High cirrus in the morning.

    Cloud dissipated in the morning.

    Fresh snow on the right aspects.                                                                                              JB Pic

    More cloud as the day progressed.

    Mostly cloudy at days end on Friday.                                                                                       JB Pic

    Friday afternoon.

    Big picture Friday.


Weather Observations for March 17, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 5-10 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -4, Winds were 5-10 KPH S --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -3, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 303 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +11.2, trace of precip recorded yest

FORECAST:

The persistent upper trough will bring unsetled weather for today in an Easterly flow aloft. The freezing level could reach 1500 meters today then drop back down to surface tonight. Sunday is looking sunnier with the FL rising to 1400 meters. Unsettled again Monday as this stagnant upper trough remains in the area. The pattern does not chnage until at least Wednesday whrn a deeper upper trough will hopefully bring some snow for Thursday.
Guesstimates: 0 cm for Saturday and Sunday. Issolated flurries can be expected Monday into Wednesday.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Weak upper level trough with unsettled weather, warmer than yesterday.

    Unsettled this am.

    Unsettled.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Mostly sunny Sunday.

    Mix of sun and cloud.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Some wind affect.

    Thin breakable crust on the way to Lakeside.

    Point releases from Thursday.

    Old School?

    Old debris in Lakeside.

    Nice cord Friday morning.                                                                                                   JB Image

     Flurries at around 15:30 Hours. Upper trough pulled some cloud from the interior.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Tantalus Range


From South Coast Touring:

Zed Flex March 16 at 11:31am

Quick trip report from a Black Tusk ascent on March 15th. Snow conditions ranged from bullet proof down low to wind crust up high with variations of powder/sun affected in between. We began skinning about 2km up the switchback trail. Snow seemed stable, however there are large cornices on the tusk and col below it. Chimney is in good condition with plenty of stability for booting. Get after it while the skin track and boot pack are still in place! Thanks to the two guys who beat us to the punch in the morning and laid in the track, you're the real MVP. Pro tip: don't drive up to the lot regardless of how sweet you think your 4X4 is.

ARTCLES:

Four missing as Swiss avalanche strikes Vallon d'Arbi: Switzerland

Snow Safety improves near Haines after large avalanche cycle: Alaska

Why you should leave a trip plan with a responsible person: Mountain Sledder