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Backcountry Advisory

As of Wednesday, May 9

Alpine: LOW (HIGH in PM)

Treeline: LOW (HIGH in PM)

Below Treeline: LOW

Travel Advisory: Mild temperatures, light rain and high freezing levels have led to a widespread natural avalanche cycle over the last few days. Yesterday's rain up to 2,300 metres followed by rapid cooling overnight created a strong melt-freeze crust in the alpine with small isolated pockets of soft slab sitting on this crust. The forecast of sun and high freezing levels through into the weekend will lead us into a more typical springtime melt-freeze cycle. Expect firm snow conditions and low hazard developing into soft snow and rising hazard as this crust breaks down each afternoon with daytime heating and sun. Take extra caution around cornices as they will become very weak with daytime warming and can easily fail with a skier's weight or even on their own.

Avalanche Activity: Size 1-2.5 loose wet avalanches were observed on all aspects in the alpine on Monday. The most significant activity occurred on west aspects during a brief break in the clouds mid-afternoon. Explosive testing Monday produced up to size two cornice failures.

Snowpack: Up to 30cm of melt-freeze crust sits above a well settled and very dense snowpack. This crust will continue to break down each day and reform with nightime cooling through the weekend. The April 9th rain crust up to 70cm deep and well bonded to the overlying layers.

Weather: A ridge is expected to build sometime on Wednesday and last through the weekend with mainly sunny skies and high daytime freezing levels.

– Blackcomb Mountain Snow Safety