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Backcountry Advisory

As of Wednesday, April 28

A weak system on Monday night brought 3 mm of rainfall up to at least the 2,200 metre elevation before the freezing level fell on Tuesday morning. Freezing levels continued to fall last night providing for a good crust recovery in the alpine. The underlying layers of snow are for the most part weak and isothermal with the exception of North aspects above 2,200m. where this isothermal trend has not yet been established.

As is usual at this time of year, the snow stability is hinging on the strength and thickness of the melt-freeze crust. Once it breaks down with exposure to the sun, moist surface sluffing will begin on some steep solar exposures. The sun is getting higher and higher in the sky with each passing day, and as a result it is getting harder to find any shaded north aspects, even in the high alpine, that are not affected by it to some degree.

Mature cornices are overhanging in many areas. Keep well back from the edge. It is often difficult to assess where the safe line of travel may be so give yourself lots of leeway.

The avalanche danger is rated as LOW this morning, but will increase with prolonged exposure to the sun.

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 at www.whistler-blackcomb.com/weather, where there is also a link to the CAA public avalanche bulletin, or call 1-800-667-1105.