Steep and deep in this photo but the trees will be the place to play today.  

At 2280 meters the temperature was -6 as of 06:00. Winds were 80-115 KPH from the SSE. At 1550 meters the temperature was -4, 98.6 % relative humidity and the barometer was dropping. In the valley it is -1. Over night 34 cm was recorded at
catskinner and 20 cm was recorded at pig alley.  The snow will continue until this afternoon, likely another 10-15 cm. Strong winds should persist through out the morning.   Wind slabs will be forming in many locations.  Advisable to allow all the storm snow to settle, gain some strength, before venturing into the alpine.  Size 1-3 avalanches can be expected. 

Cornices will continue to grow and become fragile. Remember to use the buddy system when in the trees. 

Russian soldiers having some fun : Dusted

Sifted through the trees on a snowmobile: Avalanche below tree line

Update on avalanche near Haines Ak: Haines

Click here for the updated Avalanche Advisory: Avalanche Advisory


Observations from the North: Thanks to Don Saugstad for the picture and observations.

On the 12th we dug a pit at 11am at 1930m on a line called "cheque's in the mail" - NW aspect, around 30deg. Snowing and blowing - (at 2000m approx 80kph SW) The prominent layers we found were at 40cm (CT15 rp), 85cm (CT21 rp), and 95cm (CT28). Height of profile-110cm, HS-360cm. We picked a conservative line down in amongst the big timber and trim line.
The 13th was spent skiing deep snow in the trees between 1400-1700m level. No activity heard or seen while out there, other than some storm sloughing.

Cheers, Don 

Great pow skiing right to the valley yesterday!!! Avalanche control produced mostly size 1 avalanches yesterday with the exception of a size 2 off Phalnax Ridge, check below for some pictures of Fx line.

At 2280 meters as of 06:00 the temperature was -13, winds were 40-60 KPH from the SSE. At 1550 the temperature was - 10, 95 % humidity and the barometer is dropping. In the valley it is -4. 5 cm was recorded at pig alley and 3 cm at cat skinner weather plot. We could easily see 20 cm by tomorrow morning.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

For a view at some cornice control click here: Be Gone Cornices

A video on what to do if caught in an avalanche: Tom Kimbrough

Update on Sparwood Avalanche : Sparwood Avalanche

Update on Ghost Mountain Avalanche: Ghost Mountain

Another fatality in the US,  Haines Alaska: Alaska

Thanks to Ryan for the next set of pictures of a Xh (explosive delivered by helicopter), on a slope referred to as Halifax off Phalnax Ridge. The culprit is likely the February 8 Th crust.

1.5 m max crown, tapers to .5 m

Fairly firm looking slab

1F facets on a crust

Fx line profile on Halifax slide path, ran full path into mature trees.

If you use the park, fill in the survey, you can make a difference!!

Garibaldi Park Management Plan Amendment

Please click here for survey: Garabaldi Park

Yet another low with a big impact. Not only from the amount of snow but more importantly how many parts of the Province felt the winds.  Thanks for the shot Nicole.

Max Gust at 2280 Meters 157 KPH at 07:30 155 Deg, SSE
Max Gust at 1860 Meters 80 KPH at 08:30 169 Deg, SE
Max Gust at 2000 Meters 150 KPH at 10:15 105 Deg, ES
Max Gust at 1835 Meters 88 KPH at 07:00 119 Deg, SEE
Taken on March 12, 1012

If the instruments are accurate it is obvious that there is much variability. Which also means that the wind is blowing the snow in many directions. We all know that the mountains shift the wind around but it would be better information if directions were more accurate.

Another topic related to this is how well are we documenting the wind in association to wind transport??

Boxing the compass is a term from the sea, but perhaps as mountain folk we should embrace its accuracy.

Click here for some information on : Boxing the Compass

If your still interested click here: Historical Boxing

Enough of that, Catskinner weather plot received 33 Cm of snow in 12 hours yesterday.

At 2280 meters the temperature as of 06:00 was -14, winds were 30-40 KPH from the south. At 1550 meters the temperature was -10, 95 % humidity and the barometer is on the rise. At cat skinner there was 20 cm of new and at pig alley there was 20. More snow on the way!!! At cat skinner there was 44 cm in 24 hours and 80 cm on the storm board. Some good settlement going on. In the valley it was -2.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Another avalanche fatality near Revelstoke on a similar layer to Grizzly Lake,
click here: Ghost Peak

A bit of a theme this week, more avalanche control footage: Marmot Basin

More information on the slide last week from Jackson Hole: Grand Tetons

Have to throw in one picture, big winds change things!!

Good size slab popped out below the rocks.  March 8, 2012                                                                     Steven Boorne Photo

I was doing the spearhead traverse with some friends this week, and on Thursday we skinned up lookers right of Diavolo Peak off the Diavolo Glacier toward Benvolio Glacier, and we saw this slide.  It appears the slide stepped down.  Not sure how big the fracture was but the debris field was huge.  Spoke to someone who skied by there on Wednesday and this had not occurred, so must have happened sometime in the night or early morning of Thursday.  Humbling stuff…

At 06:00 it was -11 at 2280 meters, winds were 75-110 KPH from the ESE. At 1550 the temperature was    -7, 97 % relative humidity and the barometer is dropping. 11 cm of new snow was recorded at cat skinner and 10 cm at pig alley. In the valley it is -2. Finally we are into a cycle of snow for the week. Expect up to 30 cm of new by tomorrow morning. Strong winds today will reack havoc on the alpine.

Avalanche control yesterday produced size 1-2 avalanches.


For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Update on Sparwood Avalanche brings number to 7 fatalities in BC : Corbin Avalanche

Avalanche control at Kicking Horse, Click here: Avalanche Control

Thanks to Braden Douglas for submitting these photos from last Wednesday and Thursday.

Hi skiing up in behind Mt Currie, Gravel Cr drainage.

These are pretty old now, but both failed on the Feb 16 crust. The first one Horse Doctrin W aspect was size 2.5 pulled out upper meadow and strained down through the trees. Lucky now one got caught! The other one Bronco was NE aspect triggered at the top, and the rest went sympathetic after the first one sz 2's All around 1500- 1900m . Lots of other observations on all aspects running natural to size 3. South aspect. Active day out there.

One of many slides that occurred on March 6, 2012.                             Whistler Heli Ski Photos

1500 hrs, Sa 2-2.5, 150M wide x 100M Long, 78 cm crown, 50 cm average, deposit was 2m in some places as it was a terrain trap at bottom. 1750m, NW aspect, moraine.No involvement.

As of 06:00 the temperature at 2280 meters was -8, winds from the ESE at 45-60 KPH.

At 1550 meters the temperature was -5 relative humidity was 96% and thebarometer is falling.                                                                                                 23 cm of new snow overnight at 1550 m and  25 cm recorded 1650 m. 

In the valley it is +1.  Yesterday produced some size 1-2 Sa. 

For the up dated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Another Avalanche fatality in BC near Sparwood, click here for link:        BC Avalanche

Beautiful avalanche off Mt. Niccy Code.                                                             Submitted by Yves Wenger

Thanks to Yves for sending these shots below :

These Next few ones from a slow warm whether climax avalanche that likely happened  during Last Sunday's rain & warm weather spill…. it happened right beside the Lilloet river on the way to Meager Hot Springs at about 150 meter elevation…. effectively closing the road until late spring…unless they bring in some heavy equipment, the walls where 14' to 16' high and it took everything on its way…. pretty cool to see...

Natures work.... 100' of thousands of perfectly shaped ice balls.... !!

Garibaldi Park Management Plan Amendment

For every one using the park its important to put your input into this survey, many changes could occur so it is important to send your thoughts: BC Parks Survey

Lee Lau photo from this year 12-03-07 Tremor Trorey  Cull






From 2009 to show how bony the alpine is. 

Take the time to fill out the BC Parks survey, Click here: BC Parks


At 2280 meters the temperature is - 7, winds are ESE 40-50 KPH. At 1550 meters the temperature is - 3, 98 % relative humidity and the barometer is falling. 11 cm of new snow was recorded at pig alley. 7 cm recorded at cat skinner.   In the valley it is 0. All the models are pointing towards snow fall for the next week.

For the updated avalanche advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory




Another Avalanche Fatality in the US this week, click here for details: 2 Skiers


Cornices are dangerous , many people have died or hurt themselves from them breaking when you least expect it, click here : Cornice Failure

Here are some recent observations from Lee Lau:

Been very windy this year. Any snow this year has been accompanied by wind. On Monday March 5 there was reported N winds in the evening as the low pressure transitioned to high pressure. We thought it would be high-pressure so A, S and me planned to do a mini Spearhead and ski out the Curtain Glacier. I wanted to investigate an exit via Adit Lakes which would be new terrain for me 

Unfortunately it was graybird most of the day. Snow was pretty decent with easy travelling but windslab was a factor. There was windslab on the Decker approach. We took the low Decker - Trorey col which also had some w/s (20 - 10cms) on the ski entry to the Trorey Glacier. Inversion is in full effect. Minus 7 in valley and minus 1 at Decker shoulder so warming is also a bit of a concern. The windslab was a concern only in the first 20m or so of the route down Decker-Trorey then quite a bit less present on the Trorey Gl proper.

Route then was to Pattison. We poked a bit higher to take a look at NW Pattison which also looked quite slabby. Not wishing to roll dice we skied off SE Pattison to the Tremor Glacier then took the usual Spearhead route then to MacBeth col -Curtain Glacier. Tons of rime and wind effect on all aspects (probably that N wind at the tail end of last weekend's storm). Skipped Macbeth Pk to Stu's chagrin as I didn't feel the need to climb 100m of windslab.

Ski down Curtain Glacier was pretty good. Some mild slab but it's pretty protected with snow quality improving as you get lower as the temps actually dropped. Slots are well covered although still not as filled in as in 09's record year (so maybe avoid the central Curtain Glacier direct). Lots of solar effect on the bottom bit of the Platform Glacier fyi. Winds at MacBeth Col were medium fyi (SW at approx 20 - 30).

Fitz Creek at 1400m or so is quite covered so after some routefinding we punched through to the bowls below Russet Lake and began the laborious climb up to Russet Ridge then to Cowboy Ridge. 

Large slide near Russet Lake Cabin, Released Wednesday Night.

Thanks to Justin Coughlin for this image.

 I was up doing the Spearhead yesterday / today.  The winds were blowing pretty consistently the whole time and the snow conditions seemed to reflect that.  We did come across this slide in the photo.  It was just to the North of the Russet Lake Hut where there is commonly a skin track to shortcut back to the top of Cowboy Ridge.  A group of three that spent the night at the hut seemed to think it happened overnight Wednesday. 

Hey Wayne,


Saw this today, thought I'd share it as it ran across a popular shortcut/exit route from Russet Lake.

This is the view from just below the Himmelsbach Hut, looking across with Russet Ridge behind the slide.

Couldn't see any tracks, although there was a skin track that passed over the toe of the slide. Someone exiting from the bottom of the moraine.

Went down for a view from below

Looks like it may have went yesterday or early today. Pulled out right from the top.

Thanks again for all the info,
Jamie


Thanks to Jamie May for these photos. 


At 2280 meters the temperature is - 4. Winds were 55-75 KPH from the SSE as of 06:00. Maximum temp +.5 at 15:30 yesterday.  At 1550 meters the temperature is + 2, relative humidity is 99.5 % and the barometer is dropping. Maximum temp there was +3.5 at 21:15 yesterday.  At the Catskinner plot there is 10 cm of new snow.  In the valley it is +2. Another turn of events which will certainly effect the avalanche conditions. 




For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Keeping with an international flavour this week thanks to Helene Huang for this link to an avalanche in China, there is an add at the beginning, it is a little long, but the footage of the avalanche in some nice looking tree skiing is worth the view: Tree Skiing

Hiro Okazaki Photo

This accident location was next to the site of Ma  early this week.

Observed lots of recent Na on exactly same recipe. At TL elev and E asp wind Sheltered terrain features. Good prop 40-60 cm some step down to deeper lyrs.
Small indicator slopes are showing where you should avoid stepping in.



An update from the avalanche involvement Saturday March 3 at Cerise Creek. The individual involved is still in the hospital, C7 Fracture, Lt clavicle fracture, and a skull fracture. Amazing that he self extricated from the scene. He could have used some TLC. 


Thanks to Nicole Koshure for sending this link of a snowmobile involvement from Utah, it has a happy ending: Snowmobile Rescue

Grizzly Lake Avalanche, Group recovering buried snowmobile

As of 06:00 the temperature at 2280 meters was -2.5, winds were 30-45 KPH from the ESE. At 1550 meters the temperature was -2.8, 85 % relative humidity and the barometer was a a slight decline. There was no new snow over night. In the valley it is -5.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory


A news article on the Powder Mountain incident: Grizzly Lake

Another avalanche incident in California: Tahoe Area

The Grizzly Lake Avalanche brings to light the need to practice with your equipment. There are several comments at this site that are eye opening, please read carefully, click here: Grizzly Lake

Local AST 1 course practising conveyor shovel technique

One of numerous slides in the Sea to Sky Corridor yesterday, this one on the South side of Spearhead Peak.
Skiers right track cut out the slide and went for about a 100 meter ride before exiting.  Jamie May Photo


As of 06:00 hours at 2280 meter the temperature was -8, winds were 15-30 KPH from the SW. At 1550 meters the temperature was -11, 86 % relative humidity and the barometer is rising. In the valley it is -9. No new snow last night.  Yesterday produced numerous size 2-3 avalanches,  naturals and skier released.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Unfortunately there has been an avalanche fatality above Grizzly Lake, on a steep east facing slope of Powder Mountain.  The slide occurred yesterday afternoon when 2 snowmobiles were high marking on the slope, one sled was buried with its driver and the other managed to get out of the slide.  The size 3 avalanche ran about 100 meters.  The crown was  30cm to 1.5 meters deep and approximately 350 meters wide. The deceased was buried between 40-60 cm deep his snow mobile a few meters deep.   The RCMP, Whistler SAR, Whistler Patrol,  Blackcomb Patrol and other sledders responded to the incident.

Brad Sills Photo

On the international front news of large avalanches in Pakistan: Large Avalanches

Wayne.

A few photos from today. One skier accidental and two naturals. Did not see the party in the accidental, but the start zone was on a sharp convexity with numerous rock weaknesses that had been reverse-loaded in last night’s shift to northerly winds. Noticed a few more of these south-facing skier accidentals just south of the DOA avy boundary this afternoon. All had convexity's and shallow rock weaknesses that had been reverse-loaded.

Cheers,

Mitchell

Skier Accidental in the Cake Hole from yesterday: Photo Below

From Dave Sarkany  Rutherford region Photos below:
The common theme in most of these slides was N asp at treeline 1400-1700m.
There where some higher S aspect slides, new snow overloading an old crust probably. 

Today will be one of those days you wish you had one of these at your disposal!!!


At 2280 meter the temperature as of 06:00 was - 18.5. Winds were 35-55 KPH from the NNE. At 1550 meters the temperature was -13.5, 73 % relative humidity, and the barometer is rising. Overnight 7 cm was recorded at pig alley but 15 cm has fallen in the past 24 hours, 33 in the past 48.  At the catskinner plot 6 cm was recorded over night.   In the valley it is -10.  Avalanche control yesterday produced size 1-2 slides, mostly size 1's. Maximum winds last night were 90 KPH from the NNE and through out the night switched to ESE at times. Bundle up today, wind chill values as of 06:00 were -33.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

For another clip showing a ski lift being hit by a large avalanche click here: Russian Avalanche

Another clip of a large climax slide: Slow & Steady

East facing slopes certainly can be triggered with the right conditions and the sun is already strong enough to create avalanches.  After this next storm when it gets nice out start watching for solar aspects to move.

As of 06:00 Hrs at 2280 meters the temperature was -6, winds were 55-75 KPH from the SSE. Maximum gust over night was 86 KPH. At 1550 meters the temperature was - 4, 98.5 % relative humidity and the barometer was dropping. At cat skinner weather plot 19 cm was recorded at 06:00, at pig alley 15 cm had been  recorded at 05:30.  By the time you read this the 20 cm rule will be in effect.  In the valley it is +1. With the snow and winds size 2 avalanches are probable for today.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

Footage from the passengers perspective of the avalanche in France: Passengers Perspective

Some more footage from the avalanche in France, evacuation of the people left on the lift: Lift Evac

Some footage from an Avalanche in Ontario, language warning, its a bit long: Ontario

More intel on the Duffy slide on Saturday, a second party helped rescue the individual who was injured. Main injury was a concussion. Other parties reported that it was likely a 30 cm fracture as they were finding that in their observations and staying out of the alpine terrain.

Yet another fatality south of the border yesterday: Near Moab

Here is a news article from the day before this incident: Avalanche Conditions

Old picture of an avalanche coming off Phalnax Ridge.

At 2280 meters the temperature was -4, winds 55-65 KPH from the South as of 06:00. At 1550 meters the temperature was - .35, 87 % relative humidity and the barometer is dropping, 1 cm of new snow at pig alley. In the valley it is +4.  The freezing level should continue to come down as the day progresses. Moist snow down to 30 cm at tree line. Yesterday the maximum temperatures were +1.8 at Pig Alley at 12:00, -1.5 at the round house at 16:45. On Blackcomb maximum temperatures were +1.6 at Catskiner at 15:15 and -1.7 at the Alpine Shop at 15:15.

For  the latest Avalanche Advisory click here:Avalanche Advisory

For a CAA video on Avalanche Control click here: Avalanche Control Techniques

Another Avalanche fatality in the Lake Tahoe area, for the US that's 23 so far this season, Click here : Lake Tahoe

For a review on the compression test click here: Compression Test

Large wet climax slide destroys chairlift, 41 rescued. Click here:  France

Another avalanche on the Duffy yesterday, Vantage Peak. The incident occurred around 12:00 on Saturday March 3,2012. Several groups were ski touring in the Cerise Creek cabin area. A group of 4 were at the 2000m elevation on a steep NW facing slope of Vantage Peak running out to the toe of the Anniversary Glacier. The slide took one of the party 2-3 hundred meters down in a size 1.5 avalanche and was injured, partially buried and in the end self evacuated.  Visibility was bad so these are estimates , debris 60 m wide with a crown line from 20-30 cm.  By the time a helicopter reached the scene at 15:30 hours the individual had reached the high way and was taken to the Pemberton Clinic.  Any other information would be appreciated. 

Many snowmobilers are getting into the back country these days. The trend seems to be more people are sled skiing\boarding.

At 2280 meters the temperature was - 5.5, winds were 55-85 KPH from the South as of 06:00. At 1550 meters the temperature was - 1, relative humidity was 88 %, and the barometer is falling slightly. 1 cm recorded at cat skinner and 2 cm fell at pig alley last night.  In the valley it is +1. With those winds it certainly will slab up in exposed areas.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click here: Avalanche Advisory

For an interesting read on a Swiss Avalanche event last year click here: Swiss Incident

Jordan Manley creates a great documentary on avalanche control : BC Highways

Report on a fatality south of our border: February 27, 2012

Another stellar day yesterday, lots of fast groomers and soft snow to be had! Thirteen people did not have such a great day. Read below!


At 2280 meters the temperature was - 11, winds were 25-45 KPH from the South. At 1550 meters the temperature was - 6, 88 % relative humidity and the barometer is falling slightly.   1 cm of new snow fell over night.  In the valley it is 0. Observations taken at 07:00.

For the latest Avalanche Advisory click below:
Avalanche Advisory



If you have an older snow pulse air bag system click here: Snow Pulse


Some interesting information about avalanches during the first world war:

During World War I, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 soldiers died as a result of avalanches during the mountain campaign in the Alps at the Austrian-Italian front, many of which were caused by artillery fire. Some 10,000 men, from both sides, lost their lives in avalanches in December 1916. However, it is very doubtful avalanches were used deliberately at the tactical level as weapons; more likely they were simply a side effect to shelling enemy troops, occasionally adding to the toll taken by the artillery. Avalanche prediction is nearly impossible; forecasters can only assert the conditions, terrain and relative likelihood of slides with the help of detailed weather reports and from localized snowpack observation. It would be almost impossible to predict avalanche conditions many miles behind enemy lines, making it impossible to intentionally target a slope at risk for avalanches. Also, high priority targets received continual shelling and would be unable to build up enough unstable snow to form devastating avalanches, effectively imitating the avalanche prevention programs at ski resorts.

Thirteen less people skiing today as a result of skiing in the lakeside permanent closure. They were all pass holders and the unfortunate issue with loosing your pass for a year is,  that also means loosing your bike park privileges.  For more information on permanent closures refer to the January 12 Th post.

Fresh snow is always welcomed!!

As of 06:00 the temperature at 2280 meters was -13, winds were 15-20 KPH from the West. At 1550 meters the temperature was -9.5, 95 % humidity and the barometer is dropping slightly. 1 cm of new over night.  In the valley it is -3.
Still getting releases on the stellars that are down between 30-50 cm. Size 1's still possible with a slow gain in strength.

Thanks to Lee Lau for forwarding this report from last Saturday:

Date

2012-02-25

Location

Duffey Lake, South side of NE ridge, Mt Chief Pascal

Location Description

Province

BC

Mountain Range

Coast Mountains

Coordinates

0 122.442 Lat/Long Decimal Degrees

Elevation

1760m

Activity

Backcountry Skiing

Involvement

2

Injury

2

Fatality

0

Description

Whumph occurred @ 1300hrs, on ascent, 4 skiers climbing slope, ~ 20m from ridge crest. Skiers on south east side of NE ridge of Mt. Chief Pascal, approx. 1760m, approx size class 1.5 Skier 1 carried less than 5m, pushed into trees, partially buried, minor injuries. Skier 2 carried ~10m, pushed into trees, partially buried, fractured lower leg. Skiers 3 & 4 not buried. Skiers self rescued using rescue sled & improvised ski sled. ~ 25 cm of new snow fell between 1300 & 2300, back @ car @ 23:30.

For the updated Avalanche Advisory click here:
Avalanche Advisory


From the CAA a new scale to view: CAA