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Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

As of Wednesday, March 31

Alpine: Considerable Thursday, High Friday

Treeline: Moderate Thursday, Considerable Friday

Below Treeline: Low through Friday

Travel Advisory : A total of 75 cm of snow fell during the storm cycle that ended on Tuesday morning. Mountain top winds were predominantly from southeast gusting at times to 130 km/h. The storm came in warm then gradually cooled along with diminishing winds leaving us with some blower ski conditions this morning. Caution is advised during any sunny breaks over the next few days as they could rapidly result in surface instabilities.

Avalanche Activity: The natural avalanche activity in the alpine and treeline during the early part of the storm diminished as temperatures fell. Control work at treeline elevations on Monday produced mostly size 1.0 to 1.5 results, within the new snow layers. Improving conditions on Tuesday morning allowed us to conduct additional control work in the alpine resulting in predominantly size 1 to 1.5 soft slabs with a few to size 2.0 and one to size 3.0 in West Bowl. Cornices have grown immensely with large failures occurring with light loads.

Snowpack: The storm snow is now sitting on a wide variety of old surfaces varying from wind-affected slabs and areas of old settled snow to hard crusts from last week's warm weather and sunshine. Steep shaded North aspects above 2,000 metres were relatively unaffected by the sun and mild temps. Easy to moderate shears persist at a density change within the storm snow layers. Any slopes that had a smooth melt-freeze crust on the surface prior to this storm cycle should be suspect.

Weather: The passage of the storm has left cool unstable weather in its wake. Another system will arrive onshore on Thursday night with the trailing cold front on Friday having the potential to bring another round of heavy snowfall and high winds. The extended outlook is calling for continued cool and unstable weather with below seasonable temperatures.

Conditions may vary and can change rapidly. Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler/Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistler-blackcomb.com/weather where there is also a link to the CAA public avalanche bulletin, or call 1-800-667-1105.

- Whistler Mountain Snow Safety