January 13, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

   An avalanche in Utah buried two snowboarders injuring one, story in article section below. Net Pic

    Na (Natural avalanche) North side of Pemberton Meadows.                                Toby Salin Image

    Locally no new avalanche activity-Reports of isolated Na Sz 2-2.5 North of our zone.

    YESTERDAY:

    First ride up, Thursday January 12, 2017--WB snowmaking has reached over 200 Million Gal

    Mount Fee Thursday morning.

    Treeline cornice line.

    WB weather machine at work.

    Rumbling Glacier in the distance.

    Thursday morning.

    There is certainly something brewing out in the Gulf.

    Blackcomb Peak Thursday afternoon.

    Sunset Thursday.


WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 13, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -9, Winds were 20-30 KPH S  --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -9, Winds were 20-25 KPH S  --Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -6, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Rendevous
1835 meters   -6, Winds were 20-25 KPH S   --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 182 cm Base, RH 73%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs,   99 cm Base, RH 67%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters -17, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -7.1, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

INVERTED TEMPS AGAIN TODAY, 0 Deg at 2180 m yesterday afternoon.

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am under moon light we have scatered cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

High pressure will persist into at least Sunday with a Northwest flow aloft. Unsettled weather for the next few days with a mix of sun and cloud and a steadily rising freezing level. We could see the FL rise to 800 meters today and up to 1200 meters Saturday. We may see some isolated flurries on Saturday as a dissipating weak front moves down the coast.  A series of warm wet and windy fronts will affect our area Sunday night into Thursday with a Westerly flow aloft. Enjoy the weekend!!!

    Should see some cloud development today with the weather system to the North getting closer.

    High pressure for today.

    Flow for Sunday into next week. Looks wet warm and windy.

    Cloudier on Sunday.

    Snow in the alpine for Tuesday, the FL could go as high as 1800 meters on Tuesday.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Nasty ride near Whistler on Wednesday: Choclate Bowl

Avalanche off Elk Point: Utah

Wrong place at the wrong time: Snow in your face

Skier caught in a Sz 1: Vermont



ARTICLES:

The Effects of Compaction: Mountain Sledder

Army deploys special rescue force in avalanche prone Siachen: India

A clean slate for Roger's Pass B.C.: Backcountry Magazine

Love Hate relationship with snow in Crested Butte: Colorado's Snowiest Town

Minutes matter when avalanche hits: Avoiding & Surviving Avalanches

Knowledge second to gear, experts say as snowboarder gets caught in avalanche: News 1130

Two snowboarders 'lucky to be alive' after avalanche in Summit County Backcountry: Utah



OBSERVATIONS:

Filip Pulpan January 12 at 6:52pm

Yesterday and today good conditions @Wendy Thompson Hut  Some wind and sun crust in higher elevations otherwise good and safe conditions.

    Very old skin track.

    Plate stellars on the surface.

    Fresh tracks on Disease Ridge.

January 12, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Partial Burial in Choclate Bowl Wed Jan 11, 2017 Story in Observation Section. David Cote Image
    Video in the observation section as well!!

    Not much to report around W/B-1 Sz 1 Na on steep SW aspect, 1 Sa, no involvement North.
    Big news above though!!!!!


    YESTERDAY:

    Just before sunrise Wednesday January 11, 2017.

    Just after sunrise which was at 8:08 yesterday morning. We are gaining 1 min per day in the pm.

    Sunny in the valley, a pleasant -8 in the afternoon.

    Shadow of man made snow.

    Good and bad skiing in this image of Rainbow, and yes likely some slabs.

    Snowmakng is on fire. Likely above 200 Million gallons of production to date. Automated tower.

    Image from yesterday.

    Big picture on Wednesday.

    Whistler Mtn snowmaking at sunset--Some of the snow in the image is Sublimating


WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 12, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -10, Winds were 20-25 KPH SE --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -10, Winds were 15-25 KPH S   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -9, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE --Rendevous
1835 meters     -9, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -11, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 185 cm Base, RH 79%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -11, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 100 cm Base, RH 68%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -18, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -6.2, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

Inverted temperatures this am.

    As of 07:00 hrs this am under a full moon we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Dry cold air mass will bring clear skies today in a Northerly Flow Aloft. The upper ridge in the area should flatten on Friday with unsettled weather and moderating temperatures. A similar story for Saturday with more cloud cover and warmer temperatures as the next low moves down the coast in a Southwesterly flow aloft. Models are not in agreement for Sunday, may stay unsettled until Sunday evening when a weakening frontal band moves into the area. More on that as we get closer. Does look like a seasonal weather pattern on its way early next week with a freezing level fluctuating above the valley floor and possibly going as high as 2000 meters by Tuesday..Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Sunday morning. 10-15 cm by Tuesday morning.

    Dry and slightly warmer today.

   Westerly flow aloft with unsettled conditions .

   Looking dry for Saturday with some unsettled conditions.

ARTICLES:

Rare "Extreme Avalanche Warning" issued after 7.5 feet of snow: Colorado

A-Basin set to reopen after Avalanche Mitigation: Loveland Pass

Roads close in North Iceland due to avalanche: Iceland

Avalanche Assessments from around the U.S.: Week of Jan 8,2017

15 Avalanches reported in Colorado by Wednesday: Front Range, CO

Crater Lake National Park closed due to avalanche: Oregon

Logan Canyon closed to traffic overnight after avalanche blocks US 89: Utah

OBSERVATIONS:

Neil Simpson shared Tom Oye's post.

2 hrs

-1:39

33,645 Views

Tom Oye with Brian Goodwin and Kevin Desrochers.

Jan 11, 2017

Not how I planned on starting the morning...stay safe out there kids!

Click here for Video of Choclate Bowl Ride: Nasty Ride

David Cote‎South Coast Backcountry Touring

Jan 11, 2017

Today in Chocolate Bowl, size 2. Snowboarder from a different group was caught, pulled air bag and was only buried up to his waist luckily! South aspect, 1900m. Literally 10 minutes before this slide we dug a quick pit on the same aspect (South). 1 finger Windslab 35cms thick on top of fist minus. CTE 2 & CTE 1 down 35, on density change (faceting df's). Very touchy! Our group was sledding and playing on smaller low angle slopes.

Observed 3 other size 2 naturals on S aspects from the past 24hours of reverse loading. Play carefully out there guys!

    Always refer to a map or ask where the permanent closures are on the mountain!!!!

    Tube park just before dusk.

    Look out the window, that is where you will be riding tomorrow!!

January 11, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Brittle stiff slab Tuesday am backside of Whistler, explanation below--Philippe Benjamin Pic

    From Tuesday morning, January 10, 2017.                                               Philippe Benjamin Pic

The snow really wanted to move already this morning. "Breaking” trail on a slightly higher half-bake traverse on the back of Whistler Peak. I was threading lightly as even the smallest wind deposits would break up.

 Zero tensile strength barely touched and a crack shot and it propagated really fast.  I didn’t have a ruler but I would guesstimate 16cm slab at the thickest point. 1050AM

Regards, Phil      THANKS PHIL

          Avalanche control sends avalanche into residential area, Alpine Meadows, CA-- story below:

    I-70 closed after avalanche control near Silverthorne: Story below--Net Pic



Locally, many Sz 1-2 Na (natural) storm slabs observed in the surrounding area Tuesday. Cornice control on Flute Bowl produced some Sz 1.5 debris. Reverse loading a concern!!

    YESTERDAY:

    First light on Rainbow Tuesday morning, January 10, 2017.

    It felt and looked cold.

    Angel Dust--Plate Stellars causing a light show.

    Northerly outflow later in the morning.

    Wind affect on Phalanx.

    Decent powder turns in specific areas.

    Sweeping Blackcomb Bowl.

    Just before sunset. Spindrift in the distance.

    Tuesday Morning.

    Northern California & Oregon Coast being hit hard. Tuesday afternoon.


WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 11, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -14, Winds were 50-85 KPH NE    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -21, Winds were 40-85 KPH WNW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -16, Winds were 30-75 KPH ENE  --Rendevous
1835 meters   -18, Winds were 20-40 KPH NE    --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -17, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 188 cm Base, RH 84%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -16, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 108 cm Base, RH 71%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -11, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -6.7, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

If you were at the Peak of Whistler this am at 06:00 Hrs, -21 with a 70 KPH wind would bring the wind chill to -39. Really bundle up!!!Winds will hopefully abate by this afternoon.

   As of 07:00 hrs this am under a clear moonlit sky we have unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

A strong upper level ridge and a surface high over BC will bring cold dry Northerly flow for today into tomorrow. By Friday we should see a Westerly flow aloft with moderating temperatures and some unsettled weather. A very weak front should arrive for Saturday with some possible isolated flurries, followed by a series of wet and mild Pacific fronts, Sunday into Tuesday. The jet stream will move over the weekend bringing in a warmer flow. By Tuesday we may be wanting the modified arctic outbreak back, I would rather be cold than wet.  No Guesstimates until Thursday.

    IR image from this am.

   Another cold clear day.

    Flow for today.

   Looking clear on Thursday.

   Warm and juicy for early next week.


ARTICLES:

Whistler Heli-Skiing Park use permit is significntly reduced: Garibaldi Provincial Park

Snowmobiling lifestyle in the Pemberton Area captured on Film: Pemby Life

Barryvox Puse vs Barryvox S:  Backcontry Skiing Blog

3 Trucks caught in Avalanche on Vail Pass: I-70

Controlled Avalanche hits Alpine Meadows Homes: Lake Tahoe

I-70 closed after avalanche control near Silverthorne: Colorado



OBSERVATIONS & PENDING ISSUES:

Matic Gobec January 10 at 10:12pm

Size 2 avalanche East South East aspect, 30-50 cm crown at Duffey Lake area (Saxifrage Mountain), buried a friend, no injuries.

Mitchell Sulkers January 10 at 7:49pm

I posted this on our ACC Whistler page, but haven't noticed anything about this on this page, so thought I would share for those who are interested.  On Thursday, some of ACC Whistler Section's directors in a variety of capacities will be meeting with other interested parties and our local MLA to provide feedback on the following issues (copied from the email):  "As a crown land user in the Sea to Sky, I would like to invite you to an upcoming meeting to discuss issues associated with our increasingly busy front and backcountry."  "I have met with and heard from a variety of groups over the past months about the issue of access, capacity, wildlife, recreation, safety, quality of experience and overall human impacts on the landscape throughout the Sea to Sky."  "The outcomes for this proposed meeting would be identification and definition of the problems as seen by the participants and a discussion that attempts to provide answers to the question of what constitutes solutions or success for these complex issues."  "We expect that this will be a well-attended meeting and would ask that you send one representative from your organization to participate in a discussion that is likely to cover a range of concerns."  Whether you are a card-carrying member of ACC--Whistler Section, please take the time to provide us with any perspective you have. We will not be commenting specifically on what you post, but will attempt to prioritize for our section of the presentation this Thursday morning.  Thanks in advance,  MSulkers

    Tuesday Morning  gazing West.

   Cool light  looking south in the morning.

    Horstman Peak.

   Snow blowing off the trees.

    Some pink at days end.

   Full moon will be on January 12, at 03:34 am PST. Interesting facts on the Wolf Moon. Pic Tues pm