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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Send me recent avalanche images. E-Mail top right of the side bar. Read Below:

Goggle contest returning again this year, win a pair of Marker goggles for the best avalanche image for the months of November-January, February-March,April-May.  Grand prize best image of the  season will be a Pair of Prior Skis or a Split Board awarded at the end of May. 

January 20, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Sz 2-3 Ma remotely triggered, Widowmaker-Seatlle Ridge, AK. Click> CNFIAC Report

      Cell phone call saves 2 skiers trapped in an avalanche at La Vinyeta, Spanish Pyrenees. Article below.

      Update on the avalanche in "Tibet Switzerland" with 20  Fatalities. Article below.          Net Pic

      Old fracture line below Mt Fee North Shoulder.

      500 m Fx Line between Appa and Longspur Glacier.                                                        AC Pic

     1 in 20-40 year event. From above.                                                                                         AC Pic

      Loose dry activity 2023/01/19. Pemberton Ice Cap. Steep rocky South facing.               AC Pic

      Heli-Bombing Thursday am. AC produced some SZ 1-1.5 XE Xh, soft slabs. Some holes.

      Sz 1 Xh Poo Basin from AC on Thursday.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz1 -1.5 soft slabs Xe, Xl, Xc, Sc. 

      Old debris on Whistler.

      Air Jordan

      WEATHER YESTERDAY: 

      08:02 Hrs, sunrise Thursday am. -9 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

     10:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

      Thursday January 19, 2023. 14:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 5-20 KPH SSW wind at 1835 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 25-35 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 20, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -8, Winds were 10-20 KPH W--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -7, Winds were 20-30 KPH W--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -5, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -5, Winds were   5-10 KPH SSW--Round House

1650 meters     -5, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 195 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -5, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 133 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.5, 0.2 mm of precip yesterday. 

     Board did not flip yesterday. 1.3 mm recorded in 12 hrs. 1 cm of new, Base  195 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Mostly overcast for today in a Northerly flow aloft. May see a snow shower. The FL may rise to 1000 m, presently just below surface. A weak cold front arrives Saturday am with periods of light snow, moves through quickly later in the pm. Dries out Saturday night briefly with a weak impulse arriving Saturday night into early Sunday am. Dries out Sunday with mostly overcast skies with a weak impulse arriving Sunday night with periods of light snow into Monday am. Dirty ridging with some flurries. Dries out in the pm with another weak impulse in the late pm. Unsettled Tuesday with some snow showers, mostly overcast and dry. May see some breaks with the dirty ridging. Some models are calling for dry weather after Saturday, time will tell.  Guesstimates: 0-trace by Saturday am, 10-15 cm by Sunday am, 1-3 cm by Monday am, 1-4 cm by Tuesday am, 0-2 cm by Wednesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/20. 05:00 Hrs.

      Dirty ridging for Friday with dry overcast weather. A bit warmer.

      Looking dry Friday, might see a snow flurry.

      Northerly flow aloft. 

      Cold front from low to the North with light precipitation, strong winds, cooler.

      Light precipitation Saturday.

      High pushes back on Sunday, light precip in the am, dries out in the pm. Cooler.

     Weak impulse in the am, weak impulse Sunday night.

      Weak frontal band on Monday. Periods of light snow, drier in the pm, impulse in late pm.

      Weak frontal bands with snowfall Monday am, dries out with another impulse Monday night.

      Mostly overcast Tuesday with some periods of light snow, drying trend.

      Dirty ridge Wednesday with a mix of sun and cloud.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Looking West in the am.

      Tricouni Peak <click for info.

       09:30 Hrs.

      Powder to the People!!

      Fresh Turns off Peak Chair.

      Traveling up the freeway.

         Busy day in the Whitler Backcountry.

      Surface Hoar growing.

       Multiple cloud layers in the pm.

     16:00 Hrs. End of the riding day.

      Descending into the valley cloud.

             Snow Profile from 2023/01/19.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.

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

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

MODERATE FRIDAY--Sea to Sky Advisory available top right side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Finding the sweet spot: Jan 19, 2023

Spearhead Glacier-Vista Bowl-Decker: Jan 19, 2023

Gin Peak: Jan 19, 2023

Sky Pilot Access: Jan 19, 2023

Adam Campbell asked for MIN Reports: Jan 19, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Avalanche Control: Heli-Bombing

Rules of the slopes: Riders Responsibility Code

How Deep is too Deep: No Such Thing

Avalanche Mitigation: Heli-Bombing

ARTICLES:

Two British Skiers are rescued after being trapped in an avalanche for an hour: Spanish Pyrenees

Two Backcountry Skiers rescued after avalanche near South Tahoe resort: Heavenly

53 more survivors in tragic avalanche in South West China, rescue work underway amid heavy snow: Tibet

More bodies found in Chinese Avalanche, death toll rises to 20: Tibet

When absolute certainty may not be possible--Criteria to determine death by Mountain Rescue Teams: Science Daily 

What's behind this year's deadly avalanche season and how to prepare: Colorado

      If you enjoy the content and find it useful, please hit the donate button, top right on side bar.

Send me recent avalanche images. E-Mail top right of the side bar. Read Below:

Goggle contest returning again this year, win a pair of Marker goggles for the best avalanche image for the months of November-January, February-March,April-May.  Grand prize best image of the  season will be a Pair of Prior Skis or a Split Board awarded at the end of May.