June 2, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Cornice control on May 28, 2017. Whistler Mountain

    New activity off Decker observed Wednesday (29), likely occurred on the evening of May 28, 17.

    This image taken on May 28, 2017.


    PAST WEEK:

    Bluebird Saturday May 27, 2017.

    Awesome day Saturday, Max temp in the valley was +27.7.

    Sunday May 28, 2017

    Pika's Traverse

    Alpen Glow Sunday night.

    Monday May 29, 2017. Unsettled but a warm day, Max temp in the valley was +30.3.

    Late Monday afternoon.

    Moist Tuesday May 30, 2017. 10.8 mm of rain recorded at 660 meters.

    There were some breaks on Tuesday as well.

    Wednesday May 31, 2017--another overcast day with showers, 1.1 mm recorded at Nester's Plot.

    There were some breaks on Wednesday.

    Thursday June 1, 2017--Showers in the morning & evening. 5.7 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture Thursday afternoon.

    There were some breaks on Thursday.


Weather Observations for June 2, 2017 taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -1, Winds were 50-65 KPH S  --Horstman Hut 
1860 meters     +1, Winds were 20-40 KPH SE--Rendevous
1550 meters     +3, ? mm of precip, RH 98%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     +8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +14.4, 5.7 mm of Precip recorded yest

Precip gauges are not recording on the mountain!

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, limited visibility and fresh snow on the ground.


FORECAST:

A broad upper level trough and a weak cold front will bring precipitation early this morning, trending to unsettled conditions later this am with an improving trend by days end. The upper flow will be Southwest with a high pressure aloft developing in the evening. Weak ridging for Saturday with mostly cloud and the possibility of some intermittent showers in the morning. A weak upper trough will bring cool temperatures and unsettled weather for Sunday. A weak ridge builds for Monday through Wednesday night with seasonable temperatures and mostly sunny skies. Another upper trough is forecasted for Thursday with overcast conditions, a frontal band in a warm air mass will bring moderate rain for most of the day. A cooler moist front moves onshore for Friday.
There are some model differences for Thursday into Friday but it is June and likely to be somewhat wet.

    Image from 06:45 this am.

    Unsettled for today with an improving trend as the day progresses.

    Fairly large low in the Gulf of Alaska

    Low pressure and associated surface trough for today.

    Unsettled again on Saturday.

    Some cloud for Saturday with sunny breaks as well.

    Improving Saturday as the high builds.

    Trend is to improving weather on Saturday.

    Mostly nice on Sunday, some cloud in the am.

    Weak ridging for Monday.

    Looking nice Tuesday into Wednesday.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Caro Line

May 31 at 12:03am

We found these (relatively fresh looking) tracks near Brandywine-what do you think these are? My guess is a black bear mom and cub(s?). But maybe they're grizzlies?

    Construction of Jump Park underway. Saturday

    Sunset Sunday

    Twilight Sunday night.

    Just before sunset Monday night.

    Just before sunset on Tuesday which was at 21:10 Hours.

    Overcast for most of the day on Wednesday.

   A wee bit of blue later in the day before showers Thursday night.


VIDEO FRIDAY:

One Whistler Night: David McColm

Northern Lights from Squamish: Nathan Starzyski

Undercover Vail Ski Patroller: Lindsy Vonn

Mother Elk fends off Grizzly Bear: Arizona

ARTICLES:

Workshop on Avalanche Safety at SASE: India

Boise built product could protect skiers from avalanches: Idaho

Strongly fluctuating snow cover in Switzerland appears to be coupled to ocean Cycles: NoTricksZone

Australian Ski Season to start early after heavy snowfall: June 3, 2017

May 26, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Tantalus Range, image taken on May 22, 2017.                                              Bob Plummer Image          

    Snow cat push on Jersey Cream Wall.  

    Slide Path 51, post control from early May.                                                        Jeff Van Dreil Image

   

    Past Week:

    May 22, 2017 the alpine remained closed, for Gaper day.

    Corn snow on Monday May 22, 2017 was awesome at 09:30 Hrs. Last day of the 2016/17 Season.

    Alpha Lake, summer weather Monday May 22, 2017. Max temp was 28.9 Deg Celsius.

    Awesome cloud formations Tuesday May 23, 2017.

    Pre cold front clouds on Tuesday. Max Temp in the valley was +23.4.

    Unsettled with cloudy skies on Wednesday May 24, 2017. Trace of rain recorded at 660 meters.

    Broken by the end of the day on Wednesday. Max temp in the valley was +16.8.

    Sunrise was at 05:13 Hrs on Thursday May 25, 2017.

    Unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud Thursday. Max temp in the valley was +23.4.

    Later Thursday afternoon.

    That's a big raven. Life expectancy of a raven is 10-15 Years.



Weather Observations for May 26, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +5, Winds were 5-10 KPH NW--Horstman Hut 
1860 meters     +5, Winds were 5-10 KPH E    --Rendevous
1550 meters     +5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 195 cm Base, RH 68%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     +5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +23.4, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

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

   Image from 06:45 Hrs this am.

FORECAST:

An upper ridge will continue to bring warm sunny weather into at least Tuesday. A Northerly flow aloft will bring light winds and a FL reaching 3200 + meters today. Warmer temperatures can be expected Saturday thru Monday. The ridge will begin to migrate Eastward on Tuesday with an upper trough expected to push into the area Tuesday night into Wednesday. Models are in a disagreement on precipitation amounts so on the fence for now, it could be relatively dry but only time will tell. Hoping to post on most Friday's through out the summer but will depend on my location and internet abilities.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    High pressure strengthens into Monday.

    Low well off to the East today.

    Nice and warm on Saturday.

    Warmer on Sunday.

    Low out of the Gulf of Alaska will send a weak upper trough into the area Tuesday evening.

    Still looks relatively nice on Tuesday.

    Weak system for Wednesday.

OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

Kurt Werby May 24 at 4:26pm

On Ptarmigan Ridge at Mt Baker on Sunday. Snow was firm in the am but not frozen and by mid day was isothermal.

    Monday May 22, 2017.

    Monday May 22, 2017 later in the day.

    Snow melt filling up the reservoirs.

    Jump Pool Base 2.

    Ravenous Raven.

    Road up Pika's Traverse.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Ice Call--Sam Favert: Mer de Glace

Rock Slide and Avalanche in Colorado: Naked Lady Couloir

Home for Dinner: Stan Rey

South American Ski Season: Looking good



ARTICLES:

Avalanche near Chateau Lake Louise captured on camera: CBC News

Avalanche Science Scholarships: Colorado Mountain College

Even well into May, North Shore snow pack making for treacherous hiking conditions: NSR

Snowmobilers rescued from crevasse on Mount Baker: Washington State

Alpine Safety on the agenda in Christchurch: NZ Mountain Safety Council

Avalanche Safety Tips: National Geographic

Ski Patrol-A Real Job: D'Arcy McLeish