Blower Pow
Whistler Avalanche conditions
February 03, 2008
Alpine: Moderate
Treeline: Moderate
Below Treeline: Low
Travel Advisory: The storm snow that has fallen throughout the past week was accompanied by light winds resulting in very little consolidation of the surface layers. Last night's moderate winds from the East have possibly formed isolated pockets of soft slab. Some areas the wind pressed surfaces from last week's outflow winds are still very much in evidence. Keep in mind that large unpredictable avalanches are still very much a possibility, particularly if a cornice fall is involved.
Avalanche Activity: Natural point released sluffs from steep start zones and on solar aspects were observed yesterday. Explosive testing produced size one surface avalanches. The slabs that were moving with explosive and ski testing on January 31 appear to have tightened in. The most recent activity on the Dec 04 Crust and facet layer was on January 21st and was initiated by a large cornice fall. New cornice tabs are soft and have been observed to be very fragile.
Snowpack: The snow that has fallen since last Saturday is loose sitting on a variety of old hard surfaces that were created by last week's strong NE winds and sun. At treeline and below treeline elevations, surface hoar up to 10mm in size is overlying a layer of faceted crystals. These layers are now buried by 50-70 cm of loose storm snow. Adjacent to creek beds these crystals are much larger and could provide an easy failure plane for future avalanches. The December 4th raincrust and facet crystal weakness is well buried in most areas, and although it has gradually been gaining strength, it has continued to pop up sporadically. Its unpredictable and persistent nature has been problematic and backcountry travelers should continue to be cautious. The deep slab releases have generally appeared to initially fail in a shallow part of the slab in rocky start zones, propagating into the deeper areas.
Weather: An upper ridge of high pressure will produce mainly sunny skies for today. Some cloud will move into our area tonight as a small disturbance approaches our area for Monday. A more organized system should bring periods of snow for Tuesday. The freezing level is expected to remain at the valley level throughout the period.
February 03, 2008
Alpine: Moderate
Treeline: Moderate
Below Treeline: Low
Travel Advisory: The storm snow that has fallen throughout the past week was accompanied by light winds resulting in very little consolidation of the surface layers. Last night's moderate winds from the East have possibly formed isolated pockets of soft slab. Some areas the wind pressed surfaces from last week's outflow winds are still very much in evidence. Keep in mind that large unpredictable avalanches are still very much a possibility, particularly if a cornice fall is involved.
Avalanche Activity: Natural point released sluffs from steep start zones and on solar aspects were observed yesterday. Explosive testing produced size one surface avalanches. The slabs that were moving with explosive and ski testing on January 31 appear to have tightened in. The most recent activity on the Dec 04 Crust and facet layer was on January 21st and was initiated by a large cornice fall. New cornice tabs are soft and have been observed to be very fragile.
Snowpack: The snow that has fallen since last Saturday is loose sitting on a variety of old hard surfaces that were created by last week's strong NE winds and sun. At treeline and below treeline elevations, surface hoar up to 10mm in size is overlying a layer of faceted crystals. These layers are now buried by 50-70 cm of loose storm snow. Adjacent to creek beds these crystals are much larger and could provide an easy failure plane for future avalanches. The December 4th raincrust and facet crystal weakness is well buried in most areas, and although it has gradually been gaining strength, it has continued to pop up sporadically. Its unpredictable and persistent nature has been problematic and backcountry travelers should continue to be cautious. The deep slab releases have generally appeared to initially fail in a shallow part of the slab in rocky start zones, propagating into the deeper areas.
Weather: An upper ridge of high pressure will produce mainly sunny skies for today. Some cloud will move into our area tonight as a small disturbance approaches our area for Monday. A more organized system should bring periods of snow for Tuesday. The freezing level is expected to remain at the valley level throughout the period.
