January 21, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Rescuers continue to find victims in the 2023/01/19  avalanche in Tibet. Article below. CNA Pic

      Two mountaineers missing after avalanche on Fitzroy, Patagonia. Article below.          Net Pic.

      A ski instructor has died in an avalanche in Les Arcs, FR. Article below.                    Net Pic   

      One man injured in Aspen Grove, UT avalanche. Article below.                                     UAC Pic

      Old Fracture Line on Upper Disease Ridge.

      Old debris on Decker.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler, minimal AC Xc cornice work. Sz 1.5 debris. Sz 1 Sa 

      Always be careful in the bowls, cornice debris can be dangerous if you hit it!!

     Avalanche control Blackcomb, no new avalanches observed. Wet loose on Solar aspects.

      Snowballing Friday afternoon.

      Widespread snow balling on solar aspects.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

     08:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 5-10 PKH SE wind at 1860m.

     10:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH ESE wind.

      Friday January 20, 2023. 13:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 0-5 SW breeze at 1835 m.

      17:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH West wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 21, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -4, Winds were 55-80 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -3, Winds were 65-75 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were   5-20 KPH W--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -1, Winds were 15-35 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -2, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 191 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -4, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 131 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.2, 0.8 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am, we have 0 cm of new snow. 0.0 mm in precip gauge. Base 191 cm.

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have broken cloud, unlimited visibility, and the frontal band is approaching.

 

FORECAST:

A weak cold front will quickly push through by 17:00 Hrs today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL should remain below surface today, may rise to 1000 m.  Dirty ridging will bring mostly overcast skies on Sunday with the chance of some flurries. Unsettled weather for Monday with a chance of some sunny breaks, a snow flurry but mostly overcast. Unsettled Tuesday with the chance of some snow flurries. Groundhog day Wednesday . Models differ for Thursday, but may see a weak short wave trough, more as we get closer. High strengthens on Friday. Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Sunday am, 1-3 cm by Monday am, trace-1 cm by Tuesday am, 0-trace by Wednesday am, 0-trace by Thursday am, 8-12 cm by Friday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

       GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/21. 05:00 Hrs.

      Cold front and short wave trough will bring light precipitation, strong winds and cool temps.

      Periods of light precipitation Saturday, fast moving front. From 08:00-16:00 Hrs.

      Southwest flow aloft.

               Dirty ridging Sunday with mostly overcast skies. Seasonable temperatures.

     Overcast with the chance of a flurry Sunday.

      High pushes more on Monday, but low will send a weak trough Monday. Warmer.

      Period of light precipitation Monday. 02:00-10:00 Hrs.

             High pressure builds into our zone Tuesday. Warmer temperatures.

      Dirty ridging for Tuesday, mostly cloudy.

      Mostly dry and unsettled Wednesday.

      High pressure in control Thursday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Lots of skiers/riders at 08:00 Hrs in the village.

      Tzsil (aboriginal name) Mount Currie <click for information.

      Body Bag Bowl.

      Cowboy Ridge.

       A different perspective of Cowboy Ridge.

      And yet another perspective of Cowboy Ridge.

       Negotiating convoluted terrain.

      Still lots of POW turns to be had in the resort Friday.

      Whistler Backcountry.

      Perfect Cord.

      Chuting Gallery

      Welcome to Cwitima/Kacwitima, aboriginal name for Whistler.

     Sled tracks Powder Mountain.

      Awesome sledding locally on Friday.                                                                             AC Image

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.

Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

CONSIDERABLE--Sea to Sky advisory available top right side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Cowboy Ridge: Jan 20, 2023

Mt Pattison NW Face: Jan 20, 2023

S to S Gondola Couloirs: Jan 20, 2023

Rainbow Mountain: Jan 20, 2023

Black Mountain: Jan 19, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

North Shore Avalanche Conditions: Jan 20, 2023

Avalanche: Kapuchel Lake

Pillow Line: Smashing

Navigating Convoluted: Terrain

Avalanche: Lahaul Valley

ARTICLES: 

More bodies found in Tibet Avalanche--Toll rises to 28: 1000 Rescuers

57 year old instructor dies in an avalanche in Les Arcs: France (may need google translator)

Two Basque Mountaineers go missing after avalanche: Patagonia

Man injured in avalanche rescued in Provo Canyon: Utah

The Grace of Learning: Powder Canada

With howitzers and helicopters, States trigger road-clearing avalanches: UT--CO

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