November 17, 2014

    November 16, 2014 cold temperatures in the morning, -9.

    Whistler Peak Sunday afternoon.

    Blackcomb Patrol practising rope rescue on the Creekside Gondola.

    Sunset Sunday evening. I am getting tired of these beautiful images. 

Weather observations for November 17, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +1, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the S
1860 meters     +4, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the E
1550 meters     +4,  Relative Humidity 35 %
  660 meters      -8, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +1

   Clear skies and unlimited visibility over Whistler this AM. Cirrus cloud will form this morning.


For the forecast, the high pressure will persist for another day with clear skies and inverted temperatures. There is a good chance of some cirrus cloud development today. The upper ridge should move on Tuesday with some cloud development but dry weather into Wednesday evening and continued high freezing levels (approx 3000M). The models are changing quickly, as of now we should see a weak front move in  Wednesday evening with lowering freezing levels and very light precipitation.Thursday will be mostly cloudy with some very light precipitation (FL lowering to 1500 meters by the evening).  Friday should usher in a slightly stronger frontal system with  light precipitation and freezing levels hovering around 1200 meters. There is not much certainty in the longer range models at this time but looks like we may get a good Westerly flow with seasonal temperatures and some welcome moisture beyond Saturday. 

    Some moisture along the coast.

    It appears the high is in no rush to get the boot. Does look promising for a change!

    Wednesday is even looking dry now.

    GFS has a very weak low moving in for Thursday.

Articles: 

Artificial snow saves Ski season: Seattle Times

Avalanche conditions for our American neighbours to the North: Valdez Avalanche Center

The European Ski Industry Faces up to Climate Change: Pistehors.com

Winter Skill Training Courses: ACC Whistler

Caution Urged for Colorado Backcountry Users: Out There Colorado.com

    Dog Rescue Team practising gondola evacuation.

    Unfortunately the warm Alpine Temperatures temporarily forced the guns to be silent.

   Alpin glow on Wedge Sunday evening.

November 16, 2014

                Avalanche involvement in Kananaskis Country: Story in articles section.

    Early Saturday morning on Alta Lake.

    Looking up at Singing Pass.

    Nice ice for shinny.

    Sunset on Howe Sound, November 15, 2014.



Weather observations for November 16, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +1, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the NNE
1860 meters     +2, Winds were 20-25 KPH from the WNW
1550 meters     +1,  Relative Humidity 30 %
  660 meters      -9, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was -0.1

    Clear skies and unlimited visibility this morning. Inversion at this time with +1 at 2240 meters.

For the Forecast, high pressure aloft with inverted temperatures will bring another dry day with cool temperatures in the valley. The ridge will slowly move east on Monday bringing some cloud to the area by Monday evening with freezing levels above 3000 meters. This pattern will continue into Tuesday with the real transition occurring on Wednesday as a very weak frontal system brings clouds with a bit of moisture to the area. We may get a break by Thursday afternoon before the next weak front approaches our zone for cloudy conditions and light precipitation. Freezing levels on Wednesday will slowly begin to lower and we should see them hover around 1200 meters by Friday evening. All is not lost.

    First frontal band brushes the coast with some cloud in the forecast.

    Next low moves inland on Wednesday but looks very weak.



ARTICLES:

Airplanes warned to avoid Alaska volcano: Pavlof Volcano

Linking Snow Cover properties and Avalanche Dynamics: ISSW 2014

Size 1.5 involvement - Ice Climber - Kananaskis Country: ACMG Report

Level 1 Course offered out East: Chic Chocs, Qc

    Making turns in the tube park. People are bored!!

    Getting ready to turn the switch on.

    Very clear ice. With the temperatures today you might get some more shinny in!!

 

    Sky was very blue on Saturday.

November 15, 2014

    Ice forming on all the shallow ponds.

    Cold valley temperatures are pulling the moisture out of the ground.

    Snow making is still pumping out the man made.

    Phalnax Ridge, November 14, 2014.

    Another awesome sunset looking towards the Spearhead Range. Friday evening 16:30.


Weather observations for November 15, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -9, Winds were 25-45 KPH from the E
1860 meters      -10, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the WNW
1550 meters        -8,  Relative Humidity 53 %
  660 meters      -10, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +3

    Clear skies and unlimited visibility this morning. 

For the Forecast, the Omega Block remains over our zone with clear cold weather, for today. Northeast flow aloft with Easterly low level flow will continue through the weekend. The blocking pattern will weaken and become a conventional high amplitude ridge which will be pushed East by Tuesday. We can expect a couple of warm weak lows to move through the area Tuesday and Thursday. Freezing levels are forecast to be high as the ridge weakens (up to 3000 meters) then gradually drop to 2300 meters as the lows move through but there is only light precipitation forecasted for these fronts. By Friday cooler air will bring the freezing levels back to 1800 meters. Hopefully by next weekend they will drop further and the pattern will become more seasonable.

    High pressure surrounded by moisture.

    Pacific will bring some moisture to the coast next week.

    Cold and dry right up into the Yukon.

    A shift on Monday as the high begins to be pushed East.

    Several weak lows will move through the area mid weak.

    GFS model for Friday of next week.


ARTICLES:

American Women's  Avalanche Clinics: SAFE AS

Avalanche risk forecasts for Torridon to continue: Scotland

Seven places to score snow in an El Nino winter: Mountain weekly news

Ace of Base(Layers)-Arc'teryx Phase SV Zip Neck: Backcountry Magazine



Another trip report from Dan Cudlip:
Hi Wayne, 

Dan again!  I went out to the Black Tusk today, approached via the microwave towers road.  Snow depth on the road was only about 10cm until one switch back before the towers.  It was extremely cold and windy up there, and snow conditions on all aspects were pretty horrific.  Close to unskiable in many spots due to wind scouring and riming. We found one cool line to ski, but I wouldn't recommend to anyone to head out again until it snows some more!

                                                                                                                                     Dan Cudlip Photo

                                                                                                                 Dan Cudlip Photo

                                                                                                                                     Dan Cudlip Photo

                                                                                                                                     Dan Cudlip Photo

    Will be nice when that grass is white.

    Lift evac practice November 14, 2014.

    An American Widgeon  or sometimes refereed to as Gadwall.

November 14, 2014

    Thursday morning, November 13, 2104.

    Snowmaking will be very welcome by next weekend.

    Armchair Glacier, last light.

    Sunset Thursday evening, November 14, 2014.



Weather observations for November 14, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -14, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the NNE
1860 meters    -12, Winds were 25-45 KPH from the W
1550 meters      -8,  Relative Humidity 40 %
  660 meters      -9, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +1.8

    'Ground Hog Day' Clear skies and unlimited visibility. Temp at 1835 was -11 this am.

For the forecast, the dry Northerly flow aloft with low level offshore flow will prevail today into early next week. A warmer air mass is moving through by Saturday evening with freezing levels rising to around 2800 meters by Sunday evening. The ridge appears to break down on Monday with unsettled weather and high freezing levels. Some very light precipitation may occur on Tuesday with warm temperatures, with freezing levels around 2800 meters. Seasonable freezing levels should return by Wednesday with light precipitation. Standby for future forecasts.

    Still clear on Sunday.

    GFS model does have some precipitation moving our way for Tuesday.

    High pressure is deflecting Pacific moisture to the South.

    The Big Picture from yesterday at 12:00 Hours.




Video Friday's:

Speed Kiting in close proximity to the GROUND: Valentin Delluc

Freaking out the hiker's: Chris Erwood

When the snowmobile gives back: Ouch
Did a rescue a number of years ago when a guy got his hand jammed into the drive mechanism for the belt. It was not a great scene, we had to cut the track off and the drive belt then reverse the drive mechanism to extract his hand and lower radius\ulna. He was lucky there was someone there to give him some good drugs!! You just never know what you will arrive too on SAR calls!!

Rocket Bike takes World Record: 333 KM/H

Have already posted this film, but worthy of a second mention: Avalanche Engineers

The Nature of Snow-CBC Production: The Nature of Things



Articles:

Maintenance Document for Barryvox Avalanche Transceivers: Mammut

After all the Ambulances Go: Avalanche Safety Blog

AvaTech earns Best of Whats New 2014 Award: Popular Science

The Human Factor: Powder\BD

Ocean primed for more El Nino events: Science Daily

CAC advises against using Avalanche Beacon Smart phone apps: Gripprd



Thanks to Dan Cudlip for his intel:

Hi Wayne,

A crew of four of us overnighted at Tenquille hut Tuesday/Wednesday this week. There was about 10cm on the ground at the trailhead (on the Birken side). It took us about 2 hours to boot pack to the east side of the lake, where there was about 30cm and we switched to skinning.  We climbed to the Tenquille-Finch col and skied back down the south face on pretty wind affected and variable snow, but coverage was acceptable.

The second day we climbed to the Tenquille-Goat col. We took a short run on the Tenquille glacier, which was wind packed at the top but got better as we got lower, and then skied the 700m south facing shot back towards the cabin, which again was quite variable but again adequate coverage.

                                                                                                                                     Dan Cudlip Photo

                                                                                                               Dan Cudlip Photo

                                                                                           Dan Cudlip Phot

    Gondola evacuation training on the Excaliber.

    Selfie above the ice.

    Easy to get stuck in man made snow. Do not follow ATV Tracks. They are light.