Poor conditions
Whistler Avalanche conditions
Last Updated: Friday, January 02, 2009 7:14 AM
Fri Sat Sun
Alpine High
Treeline High
Below Treeline Considerable
Avalanche Danger Rating Descriptions
Travel Advisory:
The current avalanche conditions are unusual for the coast. The skiable lines that have filled in are for the most part where the avalanche hazard is at its worst. Ongoing snowfall and sometimes very strong winds have loaded a variable series of hard and soft slabs over the weak lower snow pack. While some lines are slowly looking a little more filled in, the underlying weaknesses are already reacting to small loads. Avalanches are being remotely triggered as people are approaching slopes, while lower angle areas are settling or "whumphing" repeatedly and even after explosives have been used in some areas. Travel with caution as there are still many barely covered hazards below the new snow.
Avalanche Activity:
Explosive testing and ski cutting carried out over the past few days have produced numerous slabs up to two meters in depth. They have been failing in the storm snow and in the facets above the December 6th crust. Many settlement ?whumphs? were felt as well. Some avalanches running from small start zones near treeline were observed to channel into ground features while entraining numerous boulders resulting in nasty debris piles.
Snowpack:
The upper snowpack is upside down; areas of very hard windslab alternate frequently with deep soft slabs. Shallow areas like west aspects have verythin surface weaknesses over depth hoar crystals. These buried facets and depth hoar above and below the December 6 crust are weak and very likely the cause of the settlement whumphs. This crust may be now buried up to 100 cm below the surface. We have only seen limited activity running on the crust, but you can expect that it will begin to happen as the load above it continues to grow. Rocky terrain is very rotten and will continue be particularly prone to deeper releases in the future.
Weather:
Cool and unsettled conditions are expected over the next few days until a weathe5 system arrives on Sunday.
Last Updated: Friday, January 02, 2009 7:14 AM
Fri Sat Sun
Alpine High
Treeline High
Below Treeline Considerable
Avalanche Danger Rating Descriptions
Travel Advisory:
The current avalanche conditions are unusual for the coast. The skiable lines that have filled in are for the most part where the avalanche hazard is at its worst. Ongoing snowfall and sometimes very strong winds have loaded a variable series of hard and soft slabs over the weak lower snow pack. While some lines are slowly looking a little more filled in, the underlying weaknesses are already reacting to small loads. Avalanches are being remotely triggered as people are approaching slopes, while lower angle areas are settling or "whumphing" repeatedly and even after explosives have been used in some areas. Travel with caution as there are still many barely covered hazards below the new snow.
Avalanche Activity:
Explosive testing and ski cutting carried out over the past few days have produced numerous slabs up to two meters in depth. They have been failing in the storm snow and in the facets above the December 6th crust. Many settlement ?whumphs? were felt as well. Some avalanches running from small start zones near treeline were observed to channel into ground features while entraining numerous boulders resulting in nasty debris piles.
Snowpack:
The upper snowpack is upside down; areas of very hard windslab alternate frequently with deep soft slabs. Shallow areas like west aspects have verythin surface weaknesses over depth hoar crystals. These buried facets and depth hoar above and below the December 6 crust are weak and very likely the cause of the settlement whumphs. This crust may be now buried up to 100 cm below the surface. We have only seen limited activity running on the crust, but you can expect that it will begin to happen as the load above it continues to grow. Rocky terrain is very rotten and will continue be particularly prone to deeper releases in the future.
Weather:
Cool and unsettled conditions are expected over the next few days until a weathe5 system arrives on Sunday.
