January 22, 2023

          AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

          An avalanche on Kornock Ski Area AT, has killed a man. Article Below.  RMR Image

      Sz 2 Sa in Aspen Area, CO. 2023/01/20. Click> CAIC Report                    Sammy Podhurst Image

       Update on 2 climbers missing, avalanche may have buried them in a crevasse. Article below.

      Sa Sz 2 NW face Mt Pattison. 2023/01/20. Click> MIN Report.                 Backcountryfruits Pic

      Minimal AC Sunday am on Whistler. Cornice trimming. Xc Sz 2. Sc Sz 1 pockets of storm slab.

     Minimal control work, on Blackcomb. Xc Bushrat. Keeping the entrances trimmed. Xc Sz 1 Sc Sz 1.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Saturday was at 08:00 Hrs. -3 Deg c with a 15-40 KPH South wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs Saturday. -4 Deg c with a 25-40 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      Saturday January 21, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -5Deg C with a 15-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      This image from the same time frame as above image.

     14:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH SSW breeze at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for January 22, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -9, Winds were 15-20 KPH ENE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -8, Winds were 15-25 KPH ENE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH ENE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -7, Winds were   0-10 KPH NE--Round House

1650 meters     -6, trace in 12 Hrs,  9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 195 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -6, 1 cm in 12 Hrs,   7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 134 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +0.6, 6.1 mm of precip yesterday.

 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am, we have a trace of new snow. 0.2 mm in the precip gauge. Base  195 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging with unsettled weather for today in a Northerly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and could go as high as 1000 m today. Some morning sunny breaks with increasing cloud as the day progresses. Weak impulse early Tuesday am, with mostly overcast skies and slightly warmer temperatures. Unsettled weather Wednesday, ridge strengthens pushing inland with inverted temperatures . Mostly sunny. Pacific frontal band for Thursday with periods of light precipitation. Some models are not calling for this frontal band, time will tell! more on that as we get closer.  Unsettled Friday with a mix of sun and cloud, showers later in the day. Unsettled and much colder for Saturday. Guesstimates: trace-2 cm by Monday am, trace-2 cm by Tuesday am, 0 cm by Wednesday am, trace-2 cm by Thursday am, 8-12 cm by Friday am, trace-2 cm by Saturday am, 0 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image, 2023/01/22. 05:00 Hrs.

      Dirty ridging for Sunday with unsettled weather in the am, overcast in the pm. Cool temps.

      Not much moisture, possible snow flurries Sunday. 

      Northerly flow aloft.

      High tries to push in, low sends a bit of moisture. Unsettled and a bit warmer.

      Early morning snow showers. Unsettled with mostly overcast skies. Likely pm sunny breaks.

            High keeps pushing in, early am impulse from low Tuesday. Above seasonable temperatures.

      Weak am impulse, mostly overcast Tuesday.

            High pressure strengthens, mostly sunny with some cloud. Above average temperatures. 

      High pushes inland, dry unsettled weather Wednesday. Inverted temperatures.

      High may flatten Thursday, low may send moisture our way Thursday. Perhaps this may be right!

       Unsettled weather Friday. Mix of sun and cloud lingering cloud and moisture from Thursday.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

     Before the cold front arrived Saturday, some nice early am light. 07:30 Hrs.

      Started snowing in the valley around 08:30 Hrs.

      It was snowing 2 cm/hr for a while in the am.

      Snowing and blowing at the Roundhouse Saturday am. 20-45 KPH in the am at 1835 m.

      On an adventure!!

      11:00 Hrs. All lifts, all zones!!

      Border Cross course on Blackcomb Saturday.

      Great turns to the valley.

      Clouds thinned, flurries at 15:00 Hrs.

      Whiplash!

     16:00 Hrs descending into the lifting mid mountain cloud!

      Sad Sign!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

MODERATE--Sea to Sky Advisory top right of side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Vantage Trees: Jan 21, 2023

Seymour: Jan 21, 2023

Oboe Creek/Flute Cruiser: Jan 20, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Backcountry Conditions Report: MSAA

What not to do: Sledding

Nailing: Air Jordan

Aggressive Moose: Alaska Sledding Hazards

Nice Air: Nice Snow

ARTICLES: 

22 year old dies in an avalanche off piste on Kornock Ski Area: Austria (may need google translator)

Second officer dies after avalanche near Kaslo on Jan 9, 2023: Nelson, B.C.

Mountaineers missing after avalanche swept them into a crevasse: Patagonia 

Ice climbers and mountain adventurers fear climate change creates new unpredictable risks: CBC News

Stable snowpack, low avalanche danger creates great Backcountry Skiing: Utah

      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. 

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

      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.