Alpine:
CONSIDERABLE
Treeline:
CONSIDERABLE
Below Treeline:
MODERATE
Travel Advisory
: Expect
to see extensive scouring in most alpine start zones with loading low in lee
areas and drifting behind features. Deep soft slabs have been loaded into tree
line and below tree line. There are a couple of temperature crusts buried in
the upper snow pack below 1,700 metres. Forecast north winds are likely to kick
up later this week redistributing snow into usual windward areas and building
another layer of windslab onto the surface.
Avalanche Activity:
Explosive
and ski testing carried out in the ski area has produced surprisingly little in
the way of avalanche activity after the storms have passed. Isolated deep
drifts and windslabs have released with control work in very sheltered lee
start zones. The ferocity of the recent storms has resulted in a lot of natural
activity during the precipitation and wind events. Cornices have grown
substantially and they are very fragile. There has been evidence of natural
activity with each of the past few storms, especially in steep treeline start
zones.
Snowpack
: We have
received close to 100 centimetres of snow that arrived in waves with warming
temperatures and extreme winds. Areas of deep, stiff windslab are loaded into
drifts beside shallow scoured areas. It seems to be bonding well, however,
windslabs have a tendency to react inconsistently to triggers.
Weather
: Cold dry
conditions with north winds are expected through the weekend.
Remember that there are still many exposed early season hazards
so take it easy out there. Watch for winch cats and snowmobile traffic if you
re-enter the ski area after operating hours. Call 604-938-7676 or surf to
avalanche.ca or whistlerblackcomb.com for more information.
–
Blackcomb Snow Safety